Benton County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton 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
14 of 950 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benton County compares with Washington
Benton County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benton County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.2 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.4% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.1% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.5% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Washington, Benton County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Benton County: 1.7× fatal truck crashes in Benton County per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (3.0 vs 1.8).
Overview
Police reported 950 crashes involving commercial trucks in Benton County since 2015: 160 people were injured and 32 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.6% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
13.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Benton County is SR-14, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-82 (5), SR-24 (2) and CR-E Sellards Road (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 14 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Route planning tips for Benton County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use SR-14, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 13.3% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Benton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Benton County) |
|---|---|
| SR-14 | 6 |
| I-82 | 5 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| CR-E Sellards Road | 1 |
| CR-HANKS Rd | 1 |
| CR-S Plymouth Rd | 1 |
| CR-SELLARDS Rd | 1 |
| CR-SONOVA Rd | 1 |
| Columbia Dr | 1 |
| SR-224 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benton County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-395*018.00 | 8 |
| Sr-240*033.90 | 6 |
| Sr-240*043.00 | 5 |
| Sr-395*014.00 | 5 |
| Sr-395*018.60 | 5 |
| Sellards Road/Travis Road | 4 |
| Sr-14*160.90 | 4 |
| Sr-14*167.25 | 4 |
Benton County at a glance
| Population | 218,190 |
| Land area | 1,700.1 sq mi |
| Density | 128 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $88,512 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benton 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 | 28 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 44 | +54% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 64 | +47% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 87 | +35% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 28 to 87. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Benton County
ZIP codes in Benton County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Benton County
How many truck crashes happen in Benton County?
950 truck crashes have been reported in Benton County since 2015, with 32 deaths and 160 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Benton County?
Since 2015, SR-14 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Benton County: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Benton County?
The worst month is January: 10.4% of truck crashes in Benton County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Benton County?
14 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Benton County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Benton County compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 37.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Benton County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Benton County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.