Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Merced, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 116
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 46
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
- street with the most
- M St
- street with the most
Is Merced 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: 116 motorcycle crashes were reported in Merced from 2021–2026, 46 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at M St & Loughborough Dr (3). 28% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 22% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Merced
- 28% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 22% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 29% happened after dark.
- 11% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Merced
- 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 40% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 8 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
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.
- 013 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
M St & Loughborough Dr
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 3 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- 025 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Main St & I St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 5 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- 034 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
R St & 18th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 4 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- 045 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
R St & Olive Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 of 5 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 40% happened after dark.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- 055 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Yosemite Pkwy & Main St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 of 5 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 40% happened after dark.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- 064 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
R St & 14th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 of 4 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 50% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- 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.
- 073 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Collins Dr & Olive Ave
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 083 crashes
Glen Ave & 23rd St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 of 3 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in Merced
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| M St | 13 | 6 |
| R St | 12 | 3 |
| G St | 9 | 4 |
| SR-99 | 8 | 5 |
| Main St | 6 | 2 |
| Olive Ave | 6 | 1 |
| 16th St | 5 | 4 |
| Glen Ave | 4 | 2 |
| Yosemite Ave | 4 | 2 |
| Mckee Rd | 4 | 2 |
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.
Motorcycle crashes in Merced by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24 | 10 | |
| 2022 | 23 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 22 | 8 | |
| 2024 | 22 | 10 | |
| 2025 | 18 | 7 | |
| 2026 | 7 | 1 |
Common questions about Merced
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Merced?
- The worst spot is M St & Loughborough Dr, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are Main St & I St (5) and R St & 18th St (4).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Merced?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 116 reported motorcycle crashes in Merced from 2021–2026, and 46 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Merced?
- 28% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 22% involved a car turning left across the rider. 29% happened after dark. 11% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Merced, compared with California?
- Of 116 reported motorcycle crashes in Merced from 2021–2026: 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 40% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 8 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- Which streets in Merced have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: M St (13), R St (12), G St (9), SR-99 (8), Main St (6). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Merced each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 24, 2022: 23, 2023: 22, 2024: 22, 2025: 18, 2026: 7. 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. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are 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 2026-10-07. How the data works.