(Stacker) –Intersections have long been danger spots for drivers, and this trend is especially evident in the Western United States. More than 35,000 people died in intersection-related crashes in Western states from 2004 to 2022; This means an average of 2,000 deaths every year.

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

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers analyzed data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration To find these answers. We examined all fatal crashes from 2004 to 2022 to identify the intersections where the deadliest traffic crashes occurred and to uncover patterns among them.

Key Findings:

• Nine of the ten deadliest intersections in the Western United States are located in Arizona (5) or California (4). The other is in Idaho.
• All five of the deadliest intersections in Arizona are in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and surrounding areas.
• While 50% of fatal crashes occur at intersections controlled by stop signs, only 6% occur at intersections without traffic control devices.
• While nearly half of fatal crashes occur at stop sign intersections, only 6% occur at intersections with no control signals or signs.
• Fatal crashes related to intersections in the Western U.S. increased nearly 50% from 2004 to 2022.

Increase in Fatal Crashes in the Western United States

During the observation period, intersection-related fatal crashes increased in three of the four largest U.S. counties. However, no region saw such a sharp increase as the West. From 2004 to 2022, the total number of intersection-related crashes in the Western U.S. increased by 48%, while fatalities increased by 47% during the same period.

Below are the intersections where fatal accidents occurred most frequently during the observation period:

BROADWAY ROAD and SR 85 (OGLESBY RD)

Maricopa County, Arizona

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

59TH AVE and INDIAN SCHOOL RD

Maricopa County, Arizona

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

HAZEN RD and SR-85 (OGLESBY RD)

Maricopa County, Arizona

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

SR-152 and VOLTA RD

Merced County, California

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

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

Maricopa County, Arizona

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

US-95 and NEZ PERCE RD

Nez Perce County, Idaho

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

IMPERIAL HWY and DOWNEY AVE

Los Angeles County, California

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

CENTRAL AVE and 120TH ST

Los Angeles County, California

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

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

Maricopa County, Arizona

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

US-395 and GILL STATION COSO RD

Inyo County, California

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

Data and Methodology

This analysis was based on fatal crash data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2004 to 2022. Only crashes flagged as “intersection related” by 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 prepared by Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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