Ephrata, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ephrata: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ephrata and Grant County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Grant County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 852 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Grant County compares with Washington
Grant County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grant County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grant County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.8 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 2.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.25 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 38% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.7% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.5% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.0% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 56% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.4% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 22.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Compared with Washington, Grant County is lower on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Grant County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.4 across Washington.
Overview
Police reported 852 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grant County since 2015: 208 people were injured and 57 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
Only 36 truck crashes were reported in Ephrata since 2015; patterns below come from Grant County as a whole.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 13.8% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.4% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.7% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Ephrata happened on SR-28 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 11 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for Ephrata fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 13.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Washington), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Grant County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-28 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grant County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-283*004.00 | 7 |
| Sr-26*007.00 | 6 |
| Rd N Ne/S Frontage Rd | 5 |
| Sr-243*001.00 | 5 |
| Sr-243*001.50 | 5 |
| Sr-28*022.30 | 5 |
| Road U Se/I-90 Off Ramp | 4 |
| Sr-17*050.00 | 4 |
Ephrata at a glance
| Population | 8,718 |
| Land area | 10.5 sq mi |
| Density | 832 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98823) | $73,074 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98823) | $265,429 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grant 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 | 39 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 39 | +1% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 64 | +63% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 78 | +23% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 39 a year in the 1990s and 78 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ephrata
How many truck crashes happen in Ephrata?
852 truck crashes have been reported in Grant County since 2015, with 57 deaths and 208 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ephrata?
Truck crashes in Grant County peak in October, with 13.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Ephrata?
Since 2015, Grant County has reported 11 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Ephrata compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 70.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Grant County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ephrata?
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.