Carter Law Group | August 8, 2025 | Car Accidents near Fresno, CA
California had the highest number of fatal accidents among all 50 states in 2023, with 4,061 people dying in motor vehicle wrecks that year. Tens of thousands of other individuals in the state suffer serious injuries in car and truck crashes.
If you are traveling through the state for work or pleasure, be careful when driving on any of these roads.
1. Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1)
Perhaps no highway in California is as iconic or picturesque as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which winds its way along the state’s Pacific coastline for over 650 miles. The highway’s dramatic scenery is also one of the reasons it is so dangerous.
Narrow, winding roads combined with steep cliffs and drop-offs leave little room for error for motorists traveling this road.
2. Interstate 10
Interstate 10 has the distinction of being the southernmost transcontinental highway in the nation, stretching from Florida in the east and terminating in Santa Monica. In California, it passes through Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties, which saw a combined total of 1,528 traffic deaths in 2021, including fatal wrecks on I-10.
3. Interstate 5
One of the nation’s major north-south interstates, I-5 runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. Eighteen California counties contain a segment of this interstate, including those with major metropolitan areas such as San Diego County and Los Angeles County. These areas contain large volumes of traffic, making this highway risky to drive.
4. US Highway 101
Following a similar path to the PCH, this highway stretches from Los Angeles to Olympia, Washington. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2018 and 2022, the segment that runs through Santa Clara County saw an increase in fatal wrecks, from 12 to 13.
Santa Barbara County experienced an even more drastic increase, from seven fatal crashes in 2018 to 15 in 2022.
5. Interstate 15
In California, Interstate 15 runs for nearly 300 miles and includes a segment that passes through San Bernardino County. Here, one of its segments is known as the Barstow Freeway, and it connects with towns like Barstow and Victorville as it continues on its route.
Forty-eight traffic deaths were reported on I-15 in 2022 in San Bernardino County alone.
6. Interstate 880
Also known as the Nimitz Freeway, this highway runs from I-280 and State Route 17 in San Jose to I-80 and I-580 in Oakland. It is the subject of planned and much-needed improvements designed to improve the highway’s safety.
Between 2018 and 2022, the number of fatal crashes along I-880 in Alameda County increased from 11 to 14.
7. State Route 178
In 2022, 13 people died in traffic crashes on State Route 178 in Kern County. This road is both windy and congested as it passes through a canyon. Drivers may grow impatient during these stretches and speed or engage in other reckless behavior that increases the chances of a crash.
Stay Alert: Crashes Can Happen Anywhere in California
The above-identified roads share several characteristics that make them dangerous. Frequent curves, turns, and grades through rough terrain, large volumes of daily traffic, and elevated speeds can all make driving safely a challenge, even for experienced drivers familiar with their routes.
Although these highways and interstates might represent a significant number of the fatal crashes that happen in California each year, drivers cannot let their guard down, no matter where they are driving. Another motorist’s careless act or thoughtless decision can be the cause of a serious or fatal crash.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a California car accident, contact Carter Law Group today to schedule a free consultation.
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Carter Law Group
2445 Capitol St #105, Fresno, CA 93721, United States
(559) 485-1212
