Fatal crashes in Santa Clara County, California
In 2024, 100 people died in 96 fatal crashes in Santa Clara County, 20.0% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,138 fatal crashes and 1,195 deaths, the 9th most of any county in California.
5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 6.2 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,926,325, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in Santa Clara County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 96 | 100 |
| 2023 | 117 | 125 |
| 2022 | 108 | 113 |
| 2021 | 126 | 129 |
| 2020 | 111 | 117 |
| 2019 | 124 | 131 |
| 2018 | 113 | 116 |
| 2017 | 111 | 117 |
| 2016 | 108 | 114 |
| 2015 | 124 | 133 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Santa Clara County
US 101 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Santa Clara County from 2015 to 2024: 160, with 172 deaths. The 14 roads listed held 35% of all fatal crashes in Santa Clara County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 1 US route, 10 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 | US 101 | 160 | 172 | 50 | |
| 2 | I-280 | 39 | 42 | 11 | |
| 3 | State Highway 152 | 33 | 34 | 14 | |
| 4 | State Highway 17 | 28 | 29 | 10 | |
| 5 | I-680 | 28 | 28 | 11 | |
| 6 | State Highway 85 | 22 | 27 | 5 | no page |
| 7 | I-880 | 18 | 19 | 6 | |
| 8 | State Highway 87 | 17 | 18 | 7 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 237 | 15 | 16 | 7 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 9 | 13 | 13 | 3 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 82 | 12 | 12 | 2 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 130 | 7 | 9 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 35 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 25 | 5 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: San Jose 561, Santa Clara 58, Sunnyvale 52, Gilroy 30, Mountain View 27, Palo Alto 24, Milpitas 23, Campbell 20. 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 Santa Clara County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 58 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.6 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 44 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.8 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 33 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 40 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 42 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.0 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 58 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.3%
- Feb9.1%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr7.1%
- May7.8%
- Jun6.9%
- Jul8.1%
- Aug9.5%
- Sep9.7%
- Oct7.0%
- Nov9.0%
- 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 Santa Clara County first hit
The first harmful event was a pedestrian in 30%; a collision with another vehicle in 28%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a cyclist in 6.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | 346 | 30% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 315 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 311 | 27% |
| Cyclist | 73 | 6.4% |
| Other | 37 | 3.3% |
| Rollover | 36 | 3.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 19 | 1.7% |
| 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 Santa Clara County compare with California
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in Santa Clara County from 2015 to 2024, below the California share of 28%; speeding in 29%, about the California share; a hit-and-run in 13%, above the California share of 11%; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.7%, about the California share; 33% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below 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.
| Santa Clara | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 11% | 30% | below the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 27% | above the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 21% | 25% | below the California share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 28% | below the California share |
| Speeding | 29% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.7% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 11% | above the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 15% | about the same as 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 Santa Clara County
- How many people died in car accidents in Santa Clara County in 2024?
- 100 people died in 96 fatal crashes in Santa Clara County, California, in 2024, 20.0% fewer than in 2023. That is 5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California.
- What is the deadliest road in Santa Clara County?
- US 101 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Santa Clara County from 2015 to 2024: 160, with 172 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Santa Clara County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 58 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Santa Clara County involved a drinking driver?
- 288 of 1,138 fatal crashes in Santa Clara County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, 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
- Kern County
- Fresno County
- San Joaquin County
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Stanislaus County
All fatal crashes in California, with every county ranked.
Where the Santa Clara County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Santa Clara County (county code 85). 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.