State Highway 79 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 100 fatal crashes on State Highway 79 in California killed 107 people. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 79 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 13 | 13 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 12 | 14 |
| 2020 | 13 | 15 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 14 | 15 |
| 2016 | 12 | 14 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 79 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Riverside County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 79 from 2015 to 2024: 70, with 76 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside County | 3 | 70 | 76 |
| 2 | San Diego County | 2 | 29 | 29 |
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 79 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan13.0%
- Feb1.0%
- Mar9.0%
- Apr11.0%
- May7.0%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul12.0%
- Aug7.0%
- Sep7.0%
- Oct4.0%
- Nov9.0%
- Dec11.0%
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 79 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 47%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 6.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 47 | 47% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 23 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 15 | 15% |
| Other | 7 | 7.0% |
| Rollover | 6 | 6.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.0% |
| 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 79 in California compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 22% of fatal crashes in State Highway 79 in California from 2015 to 2024, below the California share of 28%; speeding in 20%, below the California share of 30%; a hit-and-run in 7.0%, below the California share of 11%; a driver recorded as distracted in 2.0%, below the California share of 4.1%; 27% 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 79 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 69% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 28% | below the California share |
| Speeding | 20% | 30% | below the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.0% | 4.1% | below the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 27% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.0% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 15% | above the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 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 79 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 79 in California?
- 100 fatal crashes killed 107 people on State Highway 79 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths.
- Where on State Highway 79 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Riverside County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 79 from 2015 to 2024: 70, with 76 deaths. San Diego County was second with 29.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 79 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 79 in California (filed under 12 spellings, such as "SR- 79 WINCHESTER RD", "SR-79", "SR-79 RAMOMA EXPY", "SR-79 RAMONA EXPY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.