Final answer:
In 2009, California experienced 3,081 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes according to the NHTSA.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in California, there were 3,081 fatalities that occurred due to motor vehicle crashes in 2009. This kind of data can be found in resources such as the U.S. Census Bureau transportation section, which provides historical statistics on motor vehicle accidents and fatalities. The figure cited falls within larger trends as detailed in data tables which record the total number of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States for various years.