State Highway 4 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 212 fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California killed 239 people, the 10th most of 255 numbered roads in California. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 6 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 4 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 14 |
| 2023 | 26 | 33 |
| 2022 | 26 | 31 |
| 2021 | 26 | 27 |
| 2020 | 29 | 31 |
| 2019 | 19 | 19 |
| 2018 | 16 | 16 |
| 2017 | 19 | 24 |
| 2016 | 21 | 23 |
| 2015 | 17 | 21 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 4 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Contra Costa County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 4 from 2015 to 2024: 106, with 116 deaths. Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Calaveras counties together held 93% of fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contra Costa County | 6 | 106 | 116 |
| 2 | San Joaquin County | 6 | 65 | 75 |
| 3 | Calaveras County | 1 | 27 | 31 |
| 4 | Stanislaus County | 0 | 9 | 11 |
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 State Highway 4 in California
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 11 pm to midnight; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.2%
- Feb6.6%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr6.1%
- May10.4%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul11.3%
- Aug10.8%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov13.2%
- Dec5.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a rollover in 11%, a pedestrian in 9.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 97 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 53 | 25% |
| Rollover | 23 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 9.9% |
| Other | 12 | 5.7% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 1.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.9% |
| 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 State Highway 4 in California compare with the state
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 7.5% of fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California were at or near an intersection, against 27% across California. Also above the California share: rural roads, unlit roads at night and drinking drivers. Below it: hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 212 crashes.
| State Highway 4 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 49% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 7.5% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 28% | above the California share |
| Speeding | 29% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.4% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 36% | 38% | about the same as the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.1% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 15% | about the same as the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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
Questions about fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 4 in California?
- 212 fatal crashes killed 239 people on State Highway 4 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 4 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Contra Costa County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 4 from 2015 to 2024: 106, with 116 deaths. San Joaquin County was second with 65.
- When do fatal crashes on State Highway 4 in California happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 4 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 4 in California (filed under 13 spellings, such as "SR-4", "SR-4 ALPINE STATE HWY", "SR-4 CALIFORNIA DELTA HWY", "SR-4 CHARTER WAY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.