Fatal crashes in San Diego County, California
In 2024, 303 people died in 282 fatal crashes in San Diego County, 5.2% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 2,565 fatal crashes and 2,735 deaths, the 4th most of any county in California.
9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 8.3 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 3,298,799, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in San Diego County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 282 | 303 |
| 2023 | 271 | 288 |
| 2022 | 272 | 286 |
| 2021 | 298 | 316 |
| 2020 | 270 | 293 |
| 2019 | 240 | 253 |
| 2018 | 252 | 267 |
| 2017 | 223 | 240 |
| 2016 | 229 | 243 |
| 2015 | 228 | 246 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in San Diego County
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in San Diego County from 2015 to 2024: 237, with 262 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 39% of all fatal crashes in San Diego County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 11 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 | 237 | 262 | 74 | |
| 2 | I-8 | 125 | 132 | 37 | |
| 3 | I-15 | 114 | 128 | 31 | |
| 4 | State Highway 78 | 104 | 116 | 33 | |
| 5 | State Highway 94 | 100 | 106 | 39 | |
| 6 | I-805 | 74 | 80 | 28 | |
| 7 | State Highway 76 | 65 | 74 | 20 | |
| 8 | State Highway 67 | 40 | 41 | 16 | |
| 9 | State Highway 79 | 29 | 29 | 4 | |
| 10 | State Highway 163 | 25 | 29 | 7 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 15 | 19 | 19 | 8 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 52 | 18 | 20 | 5 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 125 | 16 | 18 | 4 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 54 | 16 | 17 | 4 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 905 | 13 | 14 | 8 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: San Diego 854, Chula Vista 117, Oceanside 111, El Cajon 102, Escondido 91, Vista 64, National City 60, Carlsbad 49. 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 San Diego County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 114 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.0 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 96 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 77 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 65 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 87 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 100 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 114 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 104 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.4%
- Feb7.8%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr7.3%
- May6.9%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep8.9%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec9.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in San Diego County first hit
The first harmful event was a pedestrian in 31%; a collision with another vehicle in 28%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 6.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | 795 | 31% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 708 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 610 | 24% |
| Rollover | 174 | 6.8% |
| Other | 131 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 75 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 72 | 2.8% |
| 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 San Diego County compare with California
A drinking driver was recorded in 28% of fatal crashes in San Diego County from 2015 to 2024, about the California share; speeding in 30%, about the California share; a hit-and-run in 10%, about the California share; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.1%, about the California share; 38% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the California share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| San Diego | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 19% | 30% | below the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 25% | about the same as the California share |
| A drinking driver | 28% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 30% | 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 | 10% | 11% | about the same as the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 15% | above 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 San Diego County
- How many people died in car accidents in San Diego County in 2024?
- 303 people died in 282 fatal crashes in San Diego County, California, in 2024, 5.2% more than in 2023. That is 9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California.
- What is the deadliest road in San Diego County?
- I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in San Diego County from 2015 to 2024: 237, with 262 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in San Diego County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 114 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in San Diego County involved a drinking driver?
- 720 of 2,565 fatal crashes in San Diego County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 28%, against 28% across California.
Other counties in California with a page
- Los Angeles County
- San Bernardino County
- Riverside 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 San Diego County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in San Diego County (county code 73). 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.