By Jorge Casuso

March 6, 2026 -- The number of Fatal and Severe Injury (FSI) crashes in Santa Monica fell in 2025 after soaring to a record high the previous year, according to Transportation Department data.

While the 52 FSI crashes are still the second-highest number recorded over the past 15 years, they reverse a four-year trend that saw crashes that resulted in severe injuries or deaths rise to 62 in 2024.

The FSI crashes last year resulted in three deaths, all of them pedestrians, marking a drop from the 3 pedestrians and 2 bicyclists killed in 2024, according to data provided by the City.

Two of last year's fatalities were the result of a hit-and-run crash that took place on the night of October 24 on the 1300 block of Wilshire that also severely injured two pedestrians ("Police Arrest Fatal Hit-and-Run Suspect in Chicago," November 6, 2025).

They were among the 49 severe injury crashes that took place last year, down from 55 in 2024. Of last year's crashes resulting in severe injuries, 19 involved pedestrians, 5 involved bicyclists and 3 involved scooters.

The other 23 severe injury crashes involved only motorists, according to the data. Motorists were deemed to be at fault in 40 of the 52 FSI crashes last year, or 77.4 percent.

That is a similar ratio as 2024, when drivers were at fault in 48 of the 62 crashes, or 76.9 percent. (Note: Two FSI crashes were added after the initial numbers for 2024 were released last February.)

The drop in the number of FSI crashes comes after the City Council in January 2025 began taking steps "to prioritize the deterrence of dangerous driving within Santa Monica that poses an immediate threat to the safety of residents."

Sponsored by Councilmembers Jesse Zwick and Dan Hall, the discussion item asked the Police Department to hold more "high-visibility enforcement operations against dangerous driving."

It also called for quarterly updates to the Council and the public "detailing the monthly total number of Traffic/Vehicle Stops and enforcement actions."

Despite the drop in FSI crashes last year, the total was still the second highest based on data provided by the City dating back to 2010, when the total number of FSI crashes was 19.

Before the last two years, the previous record was 43 in 2019, before tanking to 15 during the coronavirus shutdown in 2020, then rising to 30 in 2021, 33 in 2022 and 39 in 2023 before soaring in 2024.

The high number of crashes comes after the City has made major investments in traffic safety, including the sweeping re-design of city streets and traffic safety improvements.

But the results have fallen far short of the "Vision Zero" policy unanimously adopted by the Council 10 years ago with the stated goal of ending "all fatalities and major injuries among users of City streets in coming decades."

Frustrated by the results, the Council last month unanimously voted to call for Transportation Department staff to change course on the City's "Vision Zero" plan ("Council Takes Sharp Turn on Traffic Safety," February 18, 2026).

"(T)here's no denying the fact we haven't reduced the deaths and serious injuries on our streets and roadways to zero," said Zwick, who spearheaded the motion.

"In fact, we haven't reduced them at all," Zwick said. "It's clear that what we're doing is not sufficient."

Co-sponsored by Hall and Mayor Caroline Torosis, the motion asked staff to return in six months with quick and inexpensive ways to immediately protect pedestrians and bicyclists.

The motion also called for investing in "new tools and processes that analyze every severe injury and fatal crash" and implementing "any applicable quick-build safety enhancements within three months of the incident."

The Police Department has already boosted its traffic safety operations that crack down on violations that contributed to FSI crashes, City officials said.

"In recent months, the Police Department has increased traffic enforcement by threefold to ensure compliance and improve roadway safety," City officials said in a statement.