Truck accident statistics for Merced County, California (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Merced County by year

Truck accident deaths rose from 10 in 2020 to 11 in 2021 and reached 15 in 2022, the highest annual count during the period. The count then fell to 7 in 2023, the lowest year, before rising to 10 in 2024. The 2020 and 2024 counts were the same, with a change of 0 deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual share of traffic deaths occurring in truck accidents was 21.7% in 2020, 16.4% in 2021, 21.1% in 2022, 11.9% in 2023 and 21.7% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 46, 67, 71, 59 and 46 in those respective years. Across the reporting period, the average annual truck accident death count was 10.6.^{[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 Merced County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 6 deaths, or 11.3%. People in other vehicles accounted for 37 deaths, or 69.8%, the largest person category and the majority of truck accident deaths. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 10 deaths, or 18.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That quoted label represents the FARS nonoccupant grouping, including pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. Its other category can include occupants of parked motor vehicles that were not in transport. The label therefore does not provide a literal test of whether a person was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

Fatal crashes in Merced County involved 50 large trucks during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors, described as semi or tractor-trailer units, numbered 38 and represented 76.0% of those trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 12. The records identified 1 large truck as jackknifed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Each figure in this section counts vehicles. A truck accident can involve multiple large trucks, so the vehicle total is distinct from the 46 fatal crashes and 53 deaths recorded for the period. The truck-tractor share uses large trucks as its denominator, rather than crashes or people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 17 deaths (32.1%), head-on for 12 (22.6%), rear-end for 8 (15.1%), sideswipe for 2 (3.8%) and Other for 2 (3.8%). "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" accounted for 12 deaths (22.6%). This means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, such as a rollover or striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, truck accident deaths by crash configuration were single-vehicle: 10 (18.9%); two-vehicle: 36 (67.9%); and three or more vehicles: 7 (13.2%). These groupings describe vehicle involvement separately from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 12, representing 22.6% of the county total. The listed I-5 route-coded count was 12 deaths. Interstate identification requires ROUTE=1 and a parseable I-route number in TWAY_ID; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 25 deaths (47.2%). Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 28 (52.8%). Urban locations recorded 14 deaths (26.4%), while rural locations recorded 39 (73.6%). Work-zone records accounted for 4 deaths. These are death counts, including the work-zone figure, rather than counts of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Merced County's truck accident death rate was 3.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with 1.1 for California and 1.6 nationally. The county rate was higher than both. These rates cover 2020 through 2024 and use deaths grouped by crash location, not the home addresses of the people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The listed neighboring county rates were 2.5 for Fresno County, 2.6 for Stanislaus County, 0.4 for Santa Clara County and 3.1 for Madera County. Merced County's rate was higher than each. Among the listed neighboring counties, Madera County had the highest rate and Santa Clara County the lowest. Population-based rates 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.

About these figures

A census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, FARS covers crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public in which an occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. For readers searching "truck accident lawyer," the county where the crash occurred determines how these counts are grouped, not residence.^[9][6][7][8]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then 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.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Fresno County, California (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Madera County, California (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Santa Clara County, California (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Car accident statistics for Merced County, California (2020-2024) (caraccidentlawyers.wiki)