US 50 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 131 fatal crashes on US 50 in California killed 146 people. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on US 50 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 16 | 22 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2017 | 16 | 18 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 15 | 18 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 17 | 19 |
| 2022 | 16 | 16 |
| 2023 | 18 | 19 |
| 2024 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 50 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
El Dorado County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 69 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Dorado | 2 | 60 | 69 |
| 2 | Sacramento | 6 | 59 | 65 |
| 3 | Yolo | 2 | 12 | 12 |
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 US 50 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 | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb9.9%
- Mar3.8%
- Apr9.2%
- May11.5%
- Jun7.6%
- Jul16.0%
- Aug4.6%
- Sep7.6%
- Oct10.7%
- Nov6.1%
- Dec6.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 50 in California first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 47 | 36% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 43 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 25 | 19% |
| Other | 7 | 5.3% |
| Rollover | 5 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.5% |
| 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 US 50 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.
| US 50 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 30% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 3.1% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 28% | above the California share |
| Speeding | 32% | 30% | above the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 39% | 38% | above the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.4% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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 US 50 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 50 in California (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-50", "US-50 EL DORADO FWY", "US-50 ELDORADO FWY", "US-50 LAKE TAHOE BLVD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.