US 50 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 131 fatal crashes on US 50 in California killed 146 people, the 23rd most of 255 numbered roads in California. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on US 50 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 11 |
| 2023 | 18 | 19 |
| 2022 | 16 | 16 |
| 2021 | 17 | 19 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 15 | 18 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 16 | 18 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 16 | 22 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 50 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
El Dorado County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 69 deaths. El Dorado, Sacramento and Yolo counties together held 100% of fatal crashes on US 50 in California from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Dorado County | 2 | 60 | 69 |
| 2 | Sacramento County | 6 | 59 | 65 |
| 3 | Yolo County | 2 | 12 | 12 |
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 US 50 in California
131 fatal crashes on US 50 in California from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb9.9%
- Mar3.8%
- Apr9.2%
- May11.5%
- Jun7.6%
- Jul16.0%
- Aug4.6%
- Sep7.6%
- Oct10.7%
- Nov6.1%
- Dec6.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 50 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%; a collision with another vehicle in 33%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 3.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 47 | 36% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 43 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 25 | 19% |
| Other | 7 | 5.3% |
| Rollover | 5 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.5% |
| 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 US 50 in California compare with the state
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 3.1% of fatal crashes on US 50 in California were at or near an intersection, against 27% across California. Also above the California share: unlit roads at night. Below it: 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 131 crashes.
| US 50 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 30% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 3.1% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 32% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.1% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 39% | 38% | about the same as the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.4% | 11% | about the same as the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 15% | about the same as the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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 US 50 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 50 in California?
- 131 fatal crashes killed 146 people on US 50 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 50 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- El Dorado County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 69 deaths. Sacramento County was second with 59.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the US 50 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 50 in California (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-50", "US-50 EL DORADO FWY", "US-50 ELDORADO FWY", "US-50 LAKE TAHOE BLVD"). 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.