State Highway 138 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 176 fatal crashes on State Highway 138 in California killed 201 people, the 14th most of any numbered road in California. In 2024 there were 18 fatal crashes and 23 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 138 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 14 | 15 |
| 2016 | 14 | 17 |
| 2017 | 14 | 16 |
| 2018 | 16 | 17 |
| 2019 | 17 | 19 |
| 2020 | 19 | 23 |
| 2021 | 19 | 20 |
| 2022 | 24 | 26 |
| 2023 | 21 | 25 |
| 2024 | 18 | 23 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 138 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Los Angeles County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 138 from 2015 to 2024: 112, with 129 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 13 | 112 | 129 |
| 2 | San Bernardino | 4 | 63 | 71 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on State Highway 138 in California
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.2%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar4.5%
- Apr8.5%
- May5.7%
- Jun5.7%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug12.5%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct11.9%
- Nov10.8%
- 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 on State Highway 138 in California first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 105 | 60% |
| Pedestrian | 36 | 21% |
| Rollover | 15 | 8.5% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 8.0% |
| Other | 4 | 2.3% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| 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 on State Highway 138 in California compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| State Highway 138 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 67% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 28% | below the California share |
| Speeding | 20% | 30% | below the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 36% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.5% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 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
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 138 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 138 in California (filed under 13 spellings, such as "SR- 138", "SR- 138 PALMDALE BLVD", "SR-138", "SR-138 47TH ST"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.