State Highway 78 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 122 fatal crashes on State Highway 78 in California killed 138 people, the 26th most of 255 numbered roads in California. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 78 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 18 |
| 2023 | 12 | 13 |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 |
| 2021 | 19 | 21 |
| 2020 | 12 | 17 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 12 | 14 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 12 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 78 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
San Diego County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 78 from 2015 to 2024: 104, with 116 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego County | 15 | 104 | 116 |
| 2 | Imperial County | 1 | 17 | 21 |
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 78 in California
120 fatal crashes on State Highway 78 in California from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.7%
- Feb4.9%
- Mar9.8%
- Apr5.7%
- May5.7%
- Jun12.3%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug4.9%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct8.2%
- Nov11.5%
- Dec8.2%
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 78 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 32%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 20%, a rollover in 17%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 39 | 32% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 27 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 24 | 20% |
| Rollover | 21 | 17% |
| Other | 6 | 4.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 3.3% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.8% |
| 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 on State Highway 78 in California compare with the state
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 5.7% of fatal crashes on State Highway 78 in California were at or near an intersection, against 27% across California. Also above the California share: rural roads and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 122 crashes.
| State Highway 78 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 45% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 5.7% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 25% | about the same as the California share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 24% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.3% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 38% | about the same as the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.6% | 11% | about the same as the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 25% | 15% | above the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 26% | about the same as 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 on State Highway 78 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 78 in California?
- 122 fatal crashes killed 138 people on State Highway 78 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 78 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- San Diego County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 78 from 2015 to 2024: 104, with 116 deaths. Imperial County was second with 17.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 78 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 78 in California (filed under 10 spellings, such as "SR-78", "SR-78 BEN HUISE HWY", "SR-78 BEN HULSE HWY", "SR-78 EB"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.