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

Car accident deaths in Sacramento County by year

The annual car accident death count rose from 130 in 2020 to 194 in 2021, then fell to 191 in 2022, 183 in 2023 and 141 in 2024. The highest count was 194 in 2021, and the lowest was 130 in 2020. The 2024 count was 11 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a separate series: 159 in 2020, 222 in 2021, 217 in 2022, 209 in 2023 and 156 in 2024. The share occurring in car accidents was 81.8%, 87.4%, 88.0%, 87.6% and 90.4%, respectively. Although the selected death count was highest in 2021, its share of all traffic deaths was highest in 2024.^{[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 Sacramento County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 415 deaths, or 49.5% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 88 deaths, or 10.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 336 deaths, or 40.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not limit the count to occupants of the passenger vehicles. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than where the people lived.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 134 deaths, or 16.0%; Head-on for 70, or 8.3%; Rear-end for 57, or 6.8%; and Sideswipe for 24, or 2.9%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 554 deaths, or 66.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

This classification describes the first harmful event in a car accident. The latter row means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not require it to be physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 308 car accident deaths, or 36.7%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 523 deaths, or 62.3%. Time of day was unknown for 8 deaths, or 1.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was urban for 709 deaths, or 84.5%, and rural for 129 deaths, or 15.4%. It was unknown for 1 death, or 0.1%. In a separate measure of vehicle involvement, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 36 car accident deaths, or 4.3%, during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Sacramento County's rate was 10.5 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That was higher than California's 9.3 and the same as the United States rate of 10.5. These are rates for deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved fatal crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, San Joaquin County had the highest rate at 14.7, followed by Solano County at 9.3, Placer County at 8.0 and Contra Costa County at 6.7. Sacramento County's rate was lower than San Joaquin County's and higher than the other listed neighbors' rates. The calculation uses deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. It does 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 Sacramento County, of any vehicle type, rather than just car accident deaths. Shares of all traffic deaths were 29.4% for Speeding-related, 36.4% for Roadway departure, 26.0% for At an intersection and 34.9% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 14.2%, Hit-and-run for 14.1%, Driver distraction reported for 3.1% and In a work zone for 3.4%. Roadway departure had the largest listed share; Driver distraction reported had the smallest. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These records do not establish 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. County counts use crash location, not the home location of those who died. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File may change when replaced by the Final File.^[8][6][7]

To calculate rates, 2020 through 2024 deaths are divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiplied by 100,000 to yield average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The July 1, 2024 population estimate displayed separately is not used as the denominator. No adjustment is made in the rates for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)
• Passenger vehicle
• Fatal crash (FARS definition)
• Car accident statistics for Contra Costa County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Placer County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Joaquin County, California (2020-2024)

On related publications

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