The deadliest intersections in the Western United States

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers examines the most hazardous intersections in the western U.S.

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A multi-car accident in an intersection in Inglewood, CA.

Eric Glenn // Shutterstock

Intersections have long been dangerous spots for motorists, and this trend is particularly pronounced in the Western United States. From 2004 through 2022, over 35,000 people lost their lives in intersection-related crashes across the Western states—an average of nearly 2,000 fatalities each year.

But which intersections are the deadliest? Where are drivers most at risk? 

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find those answers. We examined every fatal crash from 2004 to 2022 to identify the intersections where the most fatal traffic collisions have occurred and to uncover patterns among them.

Key Findings:

  • Nine of the ten deadliest intersections in the Western U.S. are located in either Arizona (5) or California (4). The other is in Idaho. 
  • All five of the deadliest intersections in Arizona are found in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and its surrounding areas.
  • 50% of fatal crashes occur at intersections controlled by stop signs, while only 6% occur at intersections with no traffic control devices.
  • Nearly half of all fatal crashes occur at stop sign intersections, while only 6% occur at intersections with no control signals or signs.
  • Fatal intersection-related crashes increased by nearly 50% in the Western U.S. from 2004 to 2022.

A Surge in Fatal Crashes in the Western United States

During the observation period, intersection-related fatal crashes increased in three out of four major U.S. regions. However, no region saw a sharper increase than the West. From 2004 to 2022, the total number of intersection-related crashes in the Western U.S. increased by 48%, with fatalities rising by 47% during the same period.

The 10 Deadliest Intersections in the Western U.S.

Graphic showing the ten deadliest intersections in the western U.S

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers

Below are the intersections where fatal crashes were most frequent during the observation period:

BROADWAY ROAD and SR 85 (OGLESBY RD)

Graphic showing Broadway Road and SR 85 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Airbus

Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Six
  • Fatalities: Seven

59TH AVE and INDIAN SCHOOL RD

Graphic showing 59th Ave. and Indian School Rd. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Seven

HAZEN RD and SR-85 (OGLESBY RD)

Graphic showing Hazen Road and SR-85 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Airbus

Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Seven

SR-152 and VOLTA RD

Graphic showing SR-152 and Volta Rd. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Data LDEO-Columbia, NSF

Merced County, California

  • Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Six

MARICOPA RD and SR-347 (N JOHN WAYNE PKWY)

Graphic showing Maricopa Rd. and SR-347 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Traffic Control Device: None
  • Intersection Type: T-Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Six

US-95 and NEZ PERCE RD

Graphic showing US-95 and Nez Perce Rd. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Airbus

Nez Perce County, Idaho

  • Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
  • Intersection Type: T-Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

IMPERIAL HWY and DOWNEY AVE

Graphic showing Imperial Highway and Downey Ave. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus

Los Angeles County, California

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

CENTRAL AVE and 120TH ST

Graphic showing Central Ave. and 120th St. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus

Los Angeles County, California

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

RIGGS RD and SR-347 (N JOHN WAYNE PKWY)

Graphic showing Riggs Rd. and SR-347 with statistics overlaid.

oogle Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

US-395 and GILL STATION COSO RD

Graphic showing US-396 and Gill Station Coso Rd. with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Airbus

Inyo County, California

  • Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Seven

Data and Methodology

This analysis was based on fatal crash data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, for the years 2004 through 2022. Only crashes flagged as "intersection-related" by the NHTSA were considered. The Western U.S. region, as defined by the Census Bureau, includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

This story was produced by Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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