Fatal crashes in Kern County, California
In 2024, 194 people died in 173 fatal crashes in Kern County, California, 6.0% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,630 fatal crashes and 1,808 deaths, the 7th most of 58 counties in California.
21 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 20.1 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 922,529, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in Kern County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 173 | 194 |
| 2023 | 170 | 183 |
| 2022 | 197 | 220 |
| 2021 | 208 | 225 |
| 2020 | 184 | 206 |
| 2019 | 137 | 153 |
| 2018 | 135 | 155 |
| 2017 | 168 | 185 |
| 2016 | 135 | 149 |
| 2015 | 123 | 138 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Kern County
State Highway 99 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kern County from 2015 to 2024: 100, with 116 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 38% of all fatal crashes in Kern County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 13 state highways. 39% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 61% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 99 | 100 | 116 | 33 | |
| 2 | I-5 | 95 | 118 | 24 | |
| 3 | State Highway 58 | 93 | 103 | 27 | |
| 4 | State Highway 178 | 85 | 95 | 35 | |
| 5 | State Highway 14 | 34 | 43 | 12 | |
| 6 | State Highway 43 | 30 | 41 | 7 | |
| 7 | State Highway 46 | 30 | 40 | 9 | |
| 8 | State Highway 119 | 28 | 32 | 7 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 155 | 25 | 27 | 6 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 184 | 24 | 26 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 33 | 23 | 25 | 10 | |
| 12 | State Highway 65 | 17 | 20 | 9 | |
| 13 | State Highway 204 | 17 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 14 | US 395 | 13 | 16 | 2 | |
| 15 | State Highway 223 | 13 | 15 | 3 | no page |
Bakersfield had 27% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 438 of 1,630.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Bakersfield 438, California City 23, Delano 22, Wasco 15, Shafter 15, Ridgecrest 10, Taft 9, Tehachapi 7. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Kern County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 72 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 58 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.0 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 55 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 44 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 50 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 49 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.8 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 64 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 72 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr6.9%
- May8.2%
- Jun9.4%
- Jul7.2%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct10.0%
- Nov9.4%
- Dec9.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Kern County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a pedestrian in 23%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 20%, a rollover in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 628 | 39% |
| Pedestrian | 379 | 23% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 331 | 20% |
| Rollover | 131 | 8.0% |
| Other | 81 | 5.0% |
| Cyclist | 57 | 3.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 22 | 1.3% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Kern County compare with California
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 50% of fatal crashes in Kern County were on rural roads, against 30% across California. Also above the California share: unlit roads at night and unbelted occupants. Below it: speeding, motorcycles and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 1,630 crashes.
| Kern | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 50% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 27% | about the same as the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 26% | 30% | below the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.5% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 38% | above the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 11% | 11% | about the same as the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 22% | 26% | below the California share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Kern County, California
- How many people died in car accidents in Kern County in 2024?
- 194 people died in 173 fatal crashes in Kern County, California, in 2024, 6.0% more than in 2023. That is 21 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Kern County?
- State Highway 99 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kern County from 2015 to 2024: 100, with 116 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Kern County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 72 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Kern County involved a drinking driver?
- 476 of 1,630 fatal crashes in Kern County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 28% across California.
Other counties in California with a page
- Los Angeles County
- San Bernardino County
- Riverside County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Sacramento County
- Fresno County
- Santa Clara County
- San Joaquin County
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Stanislaus County
All fatal crashes in California, with every county ranked.
Where the Kern County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Kern County (county code 29). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/california/kern-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”