Fatal crashes in Ventura County, California
In 2024, 58 people died in 55 fatal crashes in Ventura County, California, 19.4% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 527 fatal crashes and 576 deaths, the 15th most of 58 counties in California.
6.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California in 2024; 6.8 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 835,427, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths in Ventura County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | 58 |
| 2023 | 65 | 72 |
| 2022 | 51 | 57 |
| 2021 | 56 | 61 |
| 2020 | 53 | 59 |
| 2019 | 45 | 51 |
| 2018 | 51 | 53 |
| 2017 | 46 | 52 |
| 2016 | 53 | 57 |
| 2015 | 52 | 56 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Ventura County
State Highway 126 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Ventura County from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 58 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 50% of all fatal crashes in Ventura County from 2015 to 2024; 1 US route, 8 state highways. 50% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 50% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 126 | 52 | 58 | 17 | |
| 2 | US 101 | 51 | 57 | 17 | |
| 3 | State Highway 118 | 44 | 46 | 19 | |
| 4 | State Highway 33 | 38 | 40 | 10 | |
| 5 | State Highway 1 | 34 | 45 | 12 | |
| 6 | State Highway 150 | 15 | 15 | 5 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 23 | 12 | 12 | 4 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 232 | 9 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 34 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Ventura had 13% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 70 of 527.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Ventura 70, Oxnard 51, Thousand Oaks 48, Simi Valley 44, Camarillo 21, Santa Paula 10, Moorpark 6. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Ventura County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 30 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 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 | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.5%
- Feb8.0%
- Mar8.5%
- Apr7.0%
- May9.3%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct7.8%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec10.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Ventura County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a pedestrian in 21%, a rollover in 6.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 170 | 32% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 168 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 110 | 21% |
| Rollover | 33 | 6.3% |
| Cyclist | 21 | 4.0% |
| Other | 21 | 4.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.8% |
| 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 in Ventura County compare with California
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 28% of occupants killed in Ventura County were unbelted, against 38% across California. Also above the California share: drinking drivers, distracted drivers and motorcycles. Below it: intersections, 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 527 crashes.
| Ventura | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 33% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 25% | about the same as the California share |
| A drinking driver | 33% | 28% | above the California share |
| Speeding | 30% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.8% | 4.1% | above the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 28% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.5% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 15% | above the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 20% | 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 in Ventura County, California
- How many people died in car accidents in Ventura County in 2024?
- 58 people died in 55 fatal crashes in Ventura County, California, in 2024, 19.4% fewer than in 2023. That is 6.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.8 across California. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Ventura County?
- State Highway 126 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Ventura County from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 58 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Ventura County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 30 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Ventura County involved a drinking driver?
- 176 of 527 fatal crashes in Ventura County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 33%, against 28% across California.
Other counties in California with a page
- Los Angeles County
- San Bernardino County
- Riverside County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Sacramento County
- Kern County
- Fresno County
- Santa Clara County
- San Joaquin County
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
All fatal crashes in California, with every county ranked.
Where the Ventura County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Ventura County (county code 111). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/california/ventura-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”