Fatal crashes in Riverside County, California
In 2024, 289 people died in 275 fatal crashes in Riverside County, California, 13.7% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 2,860 fatal crashes and 3,065 deaths, the 3rd most of 58 counties in California.
11.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 12.5 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 2,529,933, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in Riverside County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 275 | 289 |
| 2023 | 309 | 335 |
| 2022 | 341 | 357 |
| 2021 | 310 | 326 |
| 2020 | 292 | 311 |
| 2019 | 271 | 290 |
| 2018 | 286 | 313 |
| 2017 | 283 | 305 |
| 2016 | 266 | 297 |
| 2015 | 227 | 242 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Riverside County
I-10 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Riverside County from 2015 to 2024: 218, with 251 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 35% of all fatal crashes in Riverside County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 1 US route, 10 state highways. 35% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 65% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-10 | 218 | 251 | 86 | |
| 2 | State Highway 74 | 186 | 198 | 43 | |
| 3 | I-15 | 113 | 121 | 36 | |
| 4 | I-215 | 95 | 101 | 32 | |
| 5 | State Highway 60 | 90 | 98 | 30 | |
| 6 | State Highway 91 | 87 | 90 | 38 | |
| 7 | State Highway 79 | 70 | 76 | 23 | |
| 8 | State Highway 111 | 57 | 63 | 19 | |
| 9 | State Highway 86 | 20 | 25 | 8 | |
| 10 | State Highway 371 | 18 | 19 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 62 | 14 | 15 | 5 | |
| 12 | State Highway 243 | 11 | 12 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 177 | 8 | 12 | 1 | no page |
| 14 | US 95 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 15 | I-5 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
Riverside had 10% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 298 of 2,860.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Riverside 298, Moreno Valley 123, Corona 120, Hemet 94, Perris 80, San Jacinto 75, Indio 73, Menifee 67. 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 Riverside County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 139 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 | 3.4 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 111 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 76 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 78 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 81 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 86 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 103 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 109 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 139 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 117 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 102 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 115 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.9%
- Feb7.1%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr8.6%
- May8.8%
- Jun8.4%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug7.9%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Riverside County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 37%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 23%, a rollover in 7.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,067 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 658 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 654 | 23% |
| Rollover | 205 | 7.2% |
| Other | 136 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 95 | 3.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 45 | 1.6% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Riverside County compare with California
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 24% of fatal crashes in Riverside County were on rural roads, against 30% across California. Also above the California share: unlit roads at night and drinking drivers. Below it: hit-and-runs 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 2,860 crashes.
| Riverside | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 24% | 30% | below the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 27% | about the same as the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 28% | above the California share |
| Speeding | 31% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 38% | about the same as the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.5% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 15% | about the same as the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 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 Riverside County, California
- How many people died in car accidents in Riverside County in 2024?
- 289 people died in 275 fatal crashes in Riverside County, California, in 2024, 13.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 11.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Riverside County?
- I-10 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Riverside County from 2015 to 2024: 218, with 251 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Riverside County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 139 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Riverside County involved a drinking driver?
- 922 of 2,860 fatal crashes in Riverside County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 32%, against 28% across California.
Other counties in California with a page
- Los Angeles County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Sacramento County
- Kern 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 Riverside County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Riverside County (county code 65). 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/riverside-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”