Fatal crashes in Sacramento County, California
In 2024, 156 people died in 154 fatal crashes in Sacramento County, 25.4% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,633 fatal crashes and 1,757 deaths, the 6th most of any county in California.
9.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 11.3 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,611,231, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in Sacramento County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 154 | 156 |
| 2023 | 193 | 209 |
| 2022 | 204 | 217 |
| 2021 | 206 | 222 |
| 2020 | 147 | 159 |
| 2019 | 159 | 172 |
| 2018 | 135 | 142 |
| 2017 | 158 | 172 |
| 2016 | 153 | 169 |
| 2015 | 124 | 139 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Sacramento County
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Sacramento County from 2015 to 2024: 90, with 98 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 25% of all fatal crashes in Sacramento County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 1 US route, 6 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-5 | 90 | 98 | 28 | |
| 2 | State Highway 99 | 86 | 95 | 27 | |
| 3 | US 50 | 59 | 65 | 24 | |
| 4 | I-80 | 54 | 64 | 13 | |
| 5 | State Highway 160 | 52 | 64 | 20 | |
| 6 | State Highway 51 | 29 | 32 | 11 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 16 | 20 | 27 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 12 | 11 | 18 | 2 | |
| 9 | State Highway 104 | 8 | 8 | 4 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Sacramento 503, Elk Grove 55, Rancho Cordova 50, Folsom 40, Citrus Heights 33, Galt 17. 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 Sacramento County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 76 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.3 percent, 70 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 63 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 60 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 56 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 48 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 66 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 74 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 76 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.7%
- Feb7.7%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.5%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug9.4%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct8.2%
- Nov9.9%
- Dec9.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Sacramento County first hit
The first harmful event was a pedestrian in 32%; a collision with another vehicle in 30%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a cyclist in 6.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | 515 | 32% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 483 | 30% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 371 | 23% |
| Cyclist | 113 | 6.9% |
| Other | 70 | 4.3% |
| Rollover | 61 | 3.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 19 | 1.2% |
| 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 Sacramento County compare with California
A drinking driver was recorded in 29% of fatal crashes in Sacramento County from 2015 to 2024, about the California share; speeding in 28%, below the California share of 30%; a hit-and-run in 14%, above the California share of 11%; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.1%, about the California share; 40% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the California share of 38%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Sacramento | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 20% | 30% | below the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 27% | about the same as the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 20% | 25% | below the California share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 28% | 30% | below the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 38% | above the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 14% | 11% | above the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 32% | 26% | above 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 Sacramento County
- How many people died in car accidents in Sacramento County in 2024?
- 156 people died in 154 fatal crashes in Sacramento County, California, in 2024, 25.4% fewer than in 2023. That is 9.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California.
- What is the deadliest road in Sacramento County?
- I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Sacramento County from 2015 to 2024: 90, with 98 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Sacramento County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 76 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Sacramento County involved a drinking driver?
- 468 of 1,633 fatal crashes in Sacramento 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
- 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 Sacramento County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Sacramento County (county code 67). 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. The full method.