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

Truck accident deaths in San Diego County by year

Truck accident deaths numbered 24 in 2020, 20 in 2021, 18 in 2022, 18 in 2023 and 24 in 2024. The highest count was shared by 2020 and 2024; the lowest was shared by 2022 and 2023. Deaths fell from 2020 to 2022, remained unchanged in 2023 and rose in 2024. The 2020 and 2024 counts were the same.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual truck accident share of all traffic deaths was 8.2% in 2020, 6.3% in 2021, 6.3% in 2022, 6.2% in 2023 and 7.9% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 293, 316, 286, 288 and 303 in those respective years. The highest truck accident share occurred in 2020, while the lowest occurred in 2023.^{[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 San Diego County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 17 deaths, or 16.3%, during 2020 through 2024. People in other vehicles accounted for 66 deaths, or 63.5%, the largest person category. These truck accident death figures distinguish people by their person category rather than counting only truck occupants.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

"Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" accounted for 21 deaths, or 20.2%. This table label denotes the FARS nonoccupant grouping, including pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. The other category can include occupants of parked motor vehicles, so the label is not a literal test of being outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

The truck accident vehicle records identify 102 large trucks in fatal crashes during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors, described as semi or tractor-trailer units, numbered 44 and represented 43.1% of those large trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 58. The records also identify 2 large trucks recorded as jackknifed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Each figure in the trucks table counts vehicles, not fatal crashes or deaths. A crash can involve multiple large trucks. The county's 96 fatal truck crashes and 104 deaths therefore describe different measures from the 102 large trucks involved.^{[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 19 deaths (18.3%), head-on for 7 (6.7%), rear-end for 23 (22.1%) and sideswipe for 8 (7.7%). "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" accounted for 47 (45.2%). That row means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, which can be stopped in traffic. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, truck accident deaths by crash configuration were 30 (28.8%) in single-vehicle crashes, 54 (51.9%) in two-vehicle crashes and 20 (19.2%) in crashes involving three or more vehicles. Configuration counts vehicles involved; it is separate from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 40, representing 38.5% of the county total. The listed route-coded counts were I-5 with 16 deaths, I-15 with 12, I-8 with 8 and I-805 with 4. These figures require interstate route coding and a readable I-route number; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 55 deaths (52.9%), and nighttime accounted for 49 (47.1%). Urban locations recorded 77 deaths (74.0%), while rural locations recorded 27 (26.0%). Work-zone records identified 4 truck accident deaths. The work-zone figure counts deaths rather than trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with California and the United States

San Diego County's truck accident death rate was 0.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 1.1, and the national rate was 1.6. The county rate was lower than both. These rates use deaths at crash locations and population estimates; they do not identify the residence of the people who died.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Riverside County recorded a rate of 1.3, Orange County 0.3 and Imperial County 3.6. San Diego County's rate was higher than Orange County's and lower than Riverside County's and Imperial County's. Imperial County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties. The 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

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow the crash county, not the deceased person's residence. Readers searching for a truck accident lawyer should keep that location grouping in mind when reading these counts.^[9][6][7][8]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Imperial County, California (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Orange County, California (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Riverside County, California (2020-2024)

On related publications

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