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

Car accident deaths in Fresno County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 160 in 2020 to 178 in 2021 and 185 in 2022. The count then fell to 141 in 2023 before rising to 147 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022, and the lowest was in 2023. The 2024 count was 13 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same direction of change: 182 in 2020, 200 in 2021, 204 in 2022, 152 in 2023 and 169 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 87.9%, 89.0%, 90.7%, 92.8% and 87.0%, respectively. Although 2023 had the lowest death count, it had the highest share in car accidents.^{[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 Fresno County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 522 deaths, or 64.4% of car accident deaths in Fresno County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 62 deaths, or 7.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 227 deaths, or 28.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is a person-type classification rather than a literal test of physical position relative to a vehicle; it can include occupants of parked vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 222 deaths, or 27.4%; Head-on for 103, or 12.7%; Rear-end for 45, or 5.5%; and Sideswipe for 24, or 3.0%. Other accounted for 2 deaths, or 0.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 415 deaths, or 51.2%. This row means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. Manner of collision describes that first harmful event. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic, so physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 329 car accident deaths, or 40.6%, while Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 462, or 57.0%. Time of day was Unknown for 20 deaths, or 2.5%. Nighttime had the largest count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was Urban for 449 deaths, or 55.4%, and Rural for 359, or 44.3%. It was Unknown for 3 deaths, or 0.4%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 105 car accident deaths, or 12.9%. These figures cover Fresno County crashes from 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Fresno County's car accident death rate was 15.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 9.3, and the national rate was 10.5. Fresno County's rate was higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, the rates were 15.7 in Tulare County, 17.4 in Merced County, 9.9 in Monterey County and 20.0 in Kings County. Fresno County's rate was higher than Tulare County's and Monterey County's, and lower than Merced County's and Kings County's. 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, and they measure deaths by crash location.^{[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

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Fresno County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than just car accident deaths. Roadway departure accounted for 338 deaths (37.3%); At an intersection, 315 (34.7%); Speeding-related, 252 (27.8%); and Pedestrian involved, 214 (23.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 99 deaths (10.9%); Hit-and-run, 100 (11.0%); Driver distraction reported, 26 (2.9%); and In a work zone, 13 (1.4%). A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The classifications are not findings of fault or cause.^{[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 involving a motor vehicle on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Whether reading with a car accident lawyer in mind or another purpose, keep the grouping clear: counts use crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 1,033,698 is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Kings County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Madera County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Merced County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

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