Columbia County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbia 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 36 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Columbia County compares with Washington
Columbia County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbia County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 79.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 3.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.20 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.6% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.6% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.7% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 72% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 25.7% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 41% below the state |
| After dark | 14.3% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 43% below the state |
Columbia County has lower values than Washington for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Columbia County: August worst month: 22.2% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Columbia County has recorded 36 truck crashes since 2015, with 8 people injured and 1 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 115 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (22.2% of the year) and are lowest in January (2.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 25.7% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 13.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.6% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Columbia County since 2015: US-12 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for Columbia County fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.6% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Columbia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Columbia County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbia County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-12*366.00 | 2 |
| Sr-12*377.00 | 2 |
| E Main St Blk 400 | 1 |
| Main St/Tucannon St | 1 |
| Payne Hollow/Harting Grade | 1 |
| Sr-12*360.00 | 1 |
| Sr-12*360.20 | 1 |
| Sr-12*361.10 | 1 |
Columbia County at a glance
| Population | 4,025 |
| Land area | 868.6 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,461 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbia 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 2 | -43% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | +129% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 2 | -36% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 2. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Columbia County
ZIP codes in Columbia County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Columbia County
How many truck crashes happen in Columbia County?
Since 2015, 36 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Columbia County (8 injured, 1 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Columbia County?
August has the most truck crashes in Columbia County, 22.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Columbia County?
Since 2015, Columbia County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Columbia County compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Columbia County records 79.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Columbia 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.