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

Car accident deaths in Kings County by year

Annual car accident deaths fell from 26 in 2020 to 22 in 2021, then rose to 39 in 2022. The count fell to 37 in 2023 and 29 in 2024. The highest count was 39 in 2022, while the lowest was 22 in 2021. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same direction of change: 27 in 2020, 25 in 2021, 40 in 2022, 38 in 2023 and 30 in 2024. The car accident share was 96.3%, 88.0%, 97.5%, 97.4% and 96.7%, respectively. That share was highest in 2022 and lowest 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 Kings County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 115 deaths, or 75.2% of car accident deaths in Kings County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 8 deaths, or 5.2%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 30 deaths, or 19.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not limit the count to passenger vehicle occupants. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of someone's position inside or outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Head-on accounted for 34 deaths (22.2%), Angle (side impact) for 33 (21.6%), Rear-end for 13 (8.5%) and Sideswipe for 7 (4.6%). Unknown accounted for 1 death (0.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport was the largest row, with 65 deaths (42.5%). This describes the first harmful event, which can include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean that every vehicle involved was stationary. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the classification test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 59 car accident deaths (38.6%) in Kings County from 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 88 deaths (57.5%). Time of day was unknown for 6 deaths (3.9%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 52 deaths (34.0%) as urban and 101 (66.0%) as rural. Rural locations accounted for the majority of these deaths. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 28 car accident deaths, or 18.3% of the selected death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Kings County's car accident death rate was 20.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The California rate was 9.3, and the United States rate was 10.5. Kings County's rate was higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates for the listed neighboring counties were 19.4 in Kern County, 15.9 in Fresno County, 15.7 in Tulare County and 9.9 in Monterey County. Kern County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, and Monterey County had the lowest. Kings County's rate was higher than each listed neighbor's rate. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[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 Kings County, of any vehicle type. As shares of all traffic deaths, Roadway departure accounted for 45.0%, At an intersection for 25.0%, Speeding-related for 23.8% and Pedestrian involved for 17.5%. Motorcycle involved accounted for 5.0%, Hit-and-run for 4.4%, Driver distraction reported for 2.5% and In a work zone for 0.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These percentages use all traffic deaths as their denominator, rather than only car accident deaths. A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The characteristics 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 on trafficways customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. County counts use crash location, not the residence of those killed. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that grouping in mind when reading these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Fresno County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Kern County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Monterey County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

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