Car accident statistics for Butte County, California (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Butte County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 40 in 2020 to 48 in 2021, then fell to 29 in 2022. The count rose to 33 in 2023 before falling to 28 in 2024. The highest count was 48 in 2021, and the lowest was 28 in 2024. The 2024 count was 12 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 85.1% in 2020, 87.3% in 2021, 90.6% in 2022, 94.3% in 2023 and 82.4% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 47, 55, 32, 35 and 34 in those respective years. The highest car accident share occurred in 2023, while the highest death count occurred in 2021.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Butte County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 120 deaths, or 67.4%, the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 17 deaths, or 9.6%. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 41 deaths, or 23.0%. Each share uses the deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved fatal crashes during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people counted within the selected crashes, rather than limiting the count to passenger vehicle occupants. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, not where the people killed lived.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Head-on collisions accounted for 27 deaths, or 15.2%; Angle (side impact) for 23, or 12.9%; Rear-end for 16, or 9.0%; and Sideswipe for 3, or 1.7%. The Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport row recorded 109 deaths, or 61.2%. These are car accident deaths grouped by the crash's first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That last row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 83 car accident deaths, or 46.6%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 85 deaths, or 47.8%. Time of day was unknown for 10 deaths, or 5.6%. Nighttime had the largest count among these time categories.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 105 deaths, or 59.0%, while the rural classification recorded 73 deaths, or 41.0%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 18 car accident deaths, or 10.1%. Each of these breakdowns covers deaths in the county from 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Butte County's car accident death rate was 17.1 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 9.3, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than both. The associated death counts were 178 for Butte County, 18,231 for California and 176,219 for the United States. No neighboring county rates are listed in the supplied figures.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separately reported 2024 population estimate of 208,586 is not the denominator used to calculate the county's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

These characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Butte County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. Deaths and shares of all traffic deaths were: speeding-related, 83 (40.9%); roadway departure, 118 (58.1%); at an intersection, 43 (21.2%); pedestrian involved, 39 (19.2%); motorcycle involved, 39 (19.2%); hit-and-run, 11 (5.4%); driver distraction reported, 13 (6.4%); and in a work zone, 1 (0.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These entries are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. The percentages use all traffic deaths as their denominator.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. County assignment follows crash location, not residence. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File, subject to revision when replaced by the Final File. Car accident rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The July 1, 2024 population estimate is separate from that denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Butte County, California (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)