Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in Santa Ana, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 812
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 179
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 74
- fatal
- street with the most
- 1st St
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1Broadway & 3rd St24 crashes · 4 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 10 of 24, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
- 21st St & Harbor Blvd16 crashes · 4 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 16, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
- 31st St & Grand Ave16 crashes · 3 serious or fatalPeople hit walking in the road
Is Santa Ana safe to walk?
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: 812 pedestrian crashes were reported in Santa Ana from 2021–2026, 179 of them serious or fatal (74 fatal). The most were at Broadway & 3rd St (24). 35% involved a driver turning, 19% turning left. 43% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in Santa Ana
- 35% involved a driver turning, 19% turning left.
- 43% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 30% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 43% happened after dark.
- 12% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana
- 43% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 46% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 22% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- 4% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 9 crashes: a construction or repair zone (5) and holes or deep ruts (4).
Set against all pedestrian crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where pedestrian crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0124 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Broadway & 3rd St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
Police reports: in 10 of 24, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 10 of 24 crashes a driver was turning left. 16 of 24 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 46% happened after dark.
- Before you step out, look for drivers turning left from the far side of the junction. They are watching for a gap in oncoming traffic, not for you.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 0216 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 3 fatal
1st St & Harbor Blvd
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 3 of 16, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Of 16 people hit here, 8 were in a crosswalk at the intersection and 4 were crossing away from a crosswalk. 81% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 0316 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
1st St & Grand Ave
People hit walking in the road
6 of 16 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing. 44% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 048 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
1st St & Jackson St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
Police reports: in 3 of 8, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 3 of 8 crashes a driver was turning left. 63% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Before you step out, look for drivers turning left from the far side of the junction. They are watching for a gap in oncoming traffic, not for you.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 058 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
1st St & Fairview St
People hit crossing mid-block
5 of 8 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 88% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 066 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
1st St & Clara St
People hit crossing mid-block
4 of 6 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 83% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 0712 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Bristol St & Mcfadden Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
5 of 12 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 75% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 084 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 3 fatal
Harbor Blvd & Hazard Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 4 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 100% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 096 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
Harbor Blvd & Mcfadden Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 6 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 67% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 1015 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
1st St & Bristol St
Drivers turning right into people crossing
Police reports: in 3 of 15, a driver ran a red light. In 5 of 15 crashes a driver was turning right. 8 of 15 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Watch for drivers turning right, including on a red light. They look left for traffic and often miss people on their right, so make eye contact before you step out.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| 1st St | 90 | 31 |
| Main St | 60 | 20 |
| Bristol St | 56 | 10 |
| Mcfadden Ave | 48 | 8 |
| Harbor Blvd | 34 | 13 |
| 17th St | 34 | 5 |
| Edinger Ave | 29 | 9 |
| Grand Ave | 29 | 8 |
| Fairview St | 24 | 6 |
| Warner Ave | 22 | 11 |
Reported pedestrian 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 Santa Ana
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 207 | |
| ran a red light | 44 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 40 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 31 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 20 | |
| drove under the influence | 17 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 14 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 8 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 430 cars, 141 SUVs, 123 pickup trucks, 24 minivans, 12 truck or semis and 7 motorcycles. In 37 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported pedestrian 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.
When pedestrians are hit in Santa Ana
The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 26% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Thursday.
| Monday | 120 | |
| Tuesday | 111 | |
| Wednesday | 127 | |
| Thursday | 133 | |
| Friday | 116 | |
| Saturday | 95 | |
| Sunday | 110 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in Santa Ana
| Where the person on foot was | Santa Ana | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 43% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 3% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 31% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 23% | 29% |
| Posted speed of the road | Santa Ana | California |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mph or less | 27% | 33% |
| 30–35 mph | 26% | 32% |
| 40–45 mph | 46% | 27% |
| 50 mph or more | under 1% | 8% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (805) or the road's posted speed (779). Freeway crashes are left out. These describe the crashes, not how dangerous each kind of street is: we have no count of how many people cross each one.
Pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 35 | |
| 2022 | 118 | 34 | |
| 2023 | 154 | 32 | |
| 2024 | 170 | 36 | |
| 2025 | 143 | 27 | |
| 2026 | 99 | 15 |
How people get to work in Santa Ana
| Share of workers | Santa Ana | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 69.7% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 14% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 17.2% |
6% of households in Santa Ana have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 24.5 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 312,534 residents. These are trips to work only: walks to school, the shops or a bus stop aren't counted, so they can't say how much walking or riding happens on Santa Ana's streets.
Common questions about Santa Ana
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Ana?
- The worst spot is Broadway & 3rd St, with 24 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 4 of them serious or fatal. Next are 1st St & Harbor Blvd (16) and 1st St & Grand Ave (16).
- How many pedestrians were killed in Santa Ana?
- 74 crashes killed someone in 812 reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana from 2021–2026, and 179 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in Santa Ana?
- 35% involved a driver turning, 19% turning left. 43% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 30% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 43% happened after dark. 12% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Ana, compared with California?
- Of 812 reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana from 2021–2026: 43% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 46% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 22% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 4% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 9 crashes: a construction or repair zone (5) and holes or deep ruts (4).
- Which streets in Santa Ana have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: 1st St (90), Main St (60), Bristol St (56), Mcfadden Ave (48), Harbor Blvd (34). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in Santa Ana?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Ana was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Thursday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in Santa Ana?
- 1.3% of workers in Santa Ana walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 2.7% take public transit. 6% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Ana each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 128, 2022: 118, 2023: 154, 2024: 170, 2025: 143, 2026: 99. 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. Crashes on freeways are left out. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-22. How the data works.