Wasco County, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wasco County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 451 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wasco County compares with Oregon
Wasco County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wasco County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wasco County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 145.8 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 3.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 88% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 40.7% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 3.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.2% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 61.2% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 39.1% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with Oregon, Wasco County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Wasco County: 40.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.3% in Oregon.
Overview
Since 2015, 451 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wasco County. They injured 134 people and killed 14.
That averages about one truck crash every 9 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 18.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 4.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 61.2% of truck crashes, vs 45.1% for Oregon.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 40.7% of truck crashes, compared with 13.3% in Oregon.
Where crashes happen
US-26 leads in Wasco County with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-84 (4), US-97 (3) and US-197 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.2% share (Oregon: 2.0%).
Route planning tips for Wasco County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wasco County.
- Check whether your routes use US-26, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 40.7% of truck crashes here, more than Oregon; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Wasco County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Wasco County) |
|---|---|
| US-26 | 6 |
| I-84 | 4 |
| US-97 | 3 |
| US-197 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wasco County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 97 1.54 N Hwy 197 | 4 |
| Hwy 197 & Five Mile Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 .25 S Cedar Burn Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 .77 S Mt Wilson Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 1.27 N Hwy 216 | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Cow Canyon Rest Area | 3 |
| Hwy 97 .49 S Bakeoven Mkt Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 1.27 S Cow Canyon Rest Area On Ramp | 3 |
Wasco County at a glance
| Population | 26,507 |
| Land area | 2,381.1 sq mi |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $63,698 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wasco County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 28 | +41% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 33 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 38 | +13% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 20 a year in the 1990s and 38 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Wasco County
ZIP codes in Wasco County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Wasco County
How many truck crashes happen in Wasco County?
451 truck crashes have been reported in Wasco County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 134 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Wasco County?
Since 2015, US-26 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Wasco County: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Wasco County?
Truck crashes in Wasco County peak in December, with 18.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wasco County?
Since 2015, Wasco County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Wasco County compare with Oregon for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Wasco County has 145.8 truck crashes a year; Oregon has 41.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Wasco County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.