Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in La Mesa, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 146
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 27
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 5
- fatal
- street with the most
- I-8
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs La Mesa safe to ride a motorcycle?
This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. We don't rate cities as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a street is, and busy streets have more crashes partly because more people use them. What the records show: 146 motorcycle crashes were reported in La Mesa from 2021–2026, 27 of them serious or fatal (5 fatal). The most were at I-8 & Spring St (11). 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 8% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in La Mesa
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 8% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 26% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in La Mesa
- 26% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 98% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 18% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 1% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 2 crashes: loose material on the road (2).
Set against all motorcycle crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0111 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-8 & Spring St
Falls and fixed objects
5 of 11 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 45% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 0213 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-125 & Grossmont Blvd
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 8 of 13, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 8 of 13 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 037 crashes · 4 serious or fatal
I-8 & SR-125
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 7 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 0410 crashes
I-8 & Lake Murray Blvd
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 10 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 055 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-8 & Jackson Dr
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 5 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 80% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 063 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-8 & Severin Dr
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 3 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 074 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-8 & Severin Dr
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 2 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 084 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-125 & Lemon Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 75% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 094 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-8 & La Mesa Blvd
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 2 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 104 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Fletcher Pkwy & Jackson Dr
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 4 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in La Mesa
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| I-8 | 51 | 11 |
| SR-125 | 37 | 2 |
| Fletcher Pkwy | 6 | 1 |
| 70th St | 6 | 1 |
| Baltimore Dr | 5 | 1 |
| University Ave | 5 | 1 |
| El Cajon Blvd | 4 | 3 |
| Lake Murray Blvd | 4 | 1 |
| Massachusetts Ave | 4 | 0 |
| Bancroft Dr | 3 | 1 |
Reported motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026, counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
What the police reports say drivers did in La Mesa
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 24 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 12 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 7 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 5 | |
| ran a red light | 4 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 54 cars, 20 SUVs, 15 pickup trucks, 2 truck or semis and 2 minivans. In 5 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.
Motorcycle crashes in La Mesa by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 28 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 26 | 4 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 20 | 5 |
2026 runs to Oct 19, the newest report in the data, and police reports keep arriving for months, so it isn't a full year.
Common questions about La Mesa
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in La Mesa?
- The worst spot is I-8 & Spring St, with 11 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are SR-125 & Grossmont Blvd (13) and I-8 & SR-125 (7).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in La Mesa?
- 5 crashes killed someone in 146 reported motorcycle crashes in La Mesa from 2021–2026, and 27 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in La Mesa?
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 8% involved a car turning left across the rider. 26% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in La Mesa, compared with California?
- Of 146 reported motorcycle crashes in La Mesa from 2021–2026: 26% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 98% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 18% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 1% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 2 crashes: loose material on the road (2).
- Which streets in La Mesa have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: I-8 (51), SR-125 (37), Fletcher Pkwy (6), 70th St (6), Baltimore Dr (5). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in La Mesa each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 28, 2022: 19, 2023: 28, 2024: 25, 2025: 26, 2026 (through Oct 19): 20. The latest year can rise as late reports come in.
- Where does this data come from?
- Police crash reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published by the state on data.ca.gov. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so the real totals are higher.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Freeway crashes are included: many motorcycle crashes in cities happen on them. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-22. How the data works.