King County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in King 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
0.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How King County compares with Washington
King County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where King County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | King County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 22.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 56% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
King County sits below Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
King County at a glance: I-5 deadliest road: 18 fatal truck crashes in King County since 2015.
Overview
King County has recorded 6,019 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,063 people injured and 156 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 7.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in King County is I-5, with 18 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-99 (11), SR-167 (8) and I-90 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 180 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.6, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for King County fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 King County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in King County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 18 |
| SR-99 | 11 |
| SR-167 | 8 |
| I-90 | 7 |
| SR-181 | 7 |
| I-405 | 6 |
| SR-18 | 6 |
| SR-169 | 4 |
| SR-516 | 3 |
| SR-202 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (King County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-167*026.00 | 24 |
| Sr-167*024.00 | 23 |
| Sr-167*014.00 | 22 |
| Sr-18*026.30 | 19 |
| Sr-167*019.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*002.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*001.00 | 17 |
| Sr-18*003.00 | 16 |
King County at a glance
| Population | 2,340,211 |
| Land area | 2,115.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,106 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $131,803 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in King 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 | 330 | — | 10.3 |
| 2000s | 344 | +4% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 451 | +31% | 7.2 |
| 2020s | 523 | +16% | 14.6 |
In the 1990s about 330 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 523. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 10.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in King County
ZIP codes in King County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about King County
How many truck crashes happen in King County?
King County has had 6,019 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,063 people and killing 156.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in King County?
I-5 had 18 fatal crashes involving a large truck in King County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in King County?
October has the most truck crashes in King County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in King County?
180 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in King County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in King County compare with Washington?
King County records 22.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in King County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.