State Highway 4 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 212 fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California killed 239 people, the 10th most of any numbered road in California. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 6 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 4 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 14 |
| 2023 | 26 | 33 |
| 2022 | 26 | 31 |
| 2021 | 26 | 27 |
| 2020 | 29 | 31 |
| 2019 | 19 | 19 |
| 2018 | 16 | 16 |
| 2017 | 19 | 24 |
| 2016 | 21 | 23 |
| 2015 | 17 | 21 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 4 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Contra Costa County County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 4 from 2015 to 2024: 106, with 116 deaths. Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Calaveras counties together held 93% of fatal crashes in State Highway 4 in California from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contra Costa County | 6 | 106 | 116 |
| 2 | San Joaquin County | 6 | 65 | 75 |
| 3 | Calaveras County | 1 | 27 | 31 |
| 4 | Stanislaus County | 0 | 9 | 11 |
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 4 in California
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 11 pm to midnight; 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 | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.2%
- Feb6.6%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr6.1%
- May10.4%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul11.3%
- Aug10.8%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov13.2%
- Dec5.2%
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 4 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a rollover in 11%, a pedestrian in 9.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 97 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 53 | 25% |
| Rollover | 23 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 9.9% |
| Other | 12 | 5.7% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 1.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.9% |
| 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 4 in California compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 36% of fatal crashes in State Highway 4 in California from 2015 to 2024, above the California share of 28%; speeding in 29%, about the California share; a hit-and-run in 6.1%, below the California share of 11%; 36% 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.
| State Highway 4 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 49% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 7.5% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 28% | above the California share |
| Speeding | 29% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 36% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.1% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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 State Highway 4 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 4 in California?
- 212 fatal crashes killed 239 people on State Highway 4 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths.
- Where on State Highway 4 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Contra Costa County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 4 from 2015 to 2024: 106, with 116 deaths. San Joaquin County was second with 65.
- When do fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 11 fatal crashes.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 4 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 4 in California (filed under 13 spellings, such as "SR-4", "SR-4 ALPINE STATE HWY", "SR-4 CALIFORNIA DELTA HWY", "SR-4 CHARTER WAY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.