Waterville, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterville: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waterville and Douglas County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Douglas County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 218 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Douglas County compares with Washington
Douglas County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Douglas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Douglas County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.9 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 2.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.1% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.3% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.4% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 44% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.9% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 20.4% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Compared with Washington, Douglas County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am), in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Douglas County at a glance: 16.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.7% in Washington.
Overview
Douglas County has recorded 218 truck crashes since 2015, with 105 people injured and 9 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 19 days.
Waterville had 19 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Douglas County numbers.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.5% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.9% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (8.7%).
Road surface: 16.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-97 leads within 10 miles of Waterville with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Waterville fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-97, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 16.1% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Douglas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-97 | 4 |
| US-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-2*120.00 | 4 |
| Sr-2*128.00 | 3 |
| Sr-2*187.40 | 3 |
| Sr-97*220.50 | 3 |
| 6Th St Se/S Lyle Ave | 2 |
| Mcneil Canyon Rd | 2 |
| Nelpar | 2 |
| Sr-17*122.00 | 2 |
Waterville at a glance
| Population | 1,148 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,327 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98843) | $69,425 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98843) | $709,312 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Douglas 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 | 10 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 11 | +4% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 14 | +36% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 20 | +34% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterville
How many truck crashes happen in Waterville?
Since 2015, 218 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Douglas County (105 injured, 9 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Waterville?
NHTSA data shows US-97 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterville since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Waterville?
The worst month is December: 11.5% of truck crashes in Douglas County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waterville?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Douglas County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does Waterville compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Douglas County records 41.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Waterville?
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.