Des Moines, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Des Moines: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Des Moines and King County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use King County numbers.
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 runs above Washington on garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Des Moines: 2.3× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Des Moines: 4.2 in 2016–19, 9.8 in 2020–24.
Overview
Police reported 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks in King County since 2015: 1,063 people were injured and 156 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
Des Moines had 17 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use King County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.3% of the year) and are lowest in May (7.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
4.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Des Moines is I-5, with 13 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-167 (8), SR-99 (8) and SR-181 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 180 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.6 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Des Moines fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in King County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 King County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 13 |
| SR-167 | 8 |
| SR-99 | 8 |
| SR-181 | 7 |
| I-405 | 3 |
| SR-516 | 3 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| 37th Ave S | 1 |
| 4th St Se | 1 |
| Albaum Blvd Sw | 1 |
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 |
Des Moines at a glance
| Population | 33,207 |
| Land area | 6.4 sq mi |
| Density | 5,177 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98198) | $86,239 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98198) | $590,984 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 330 to 523. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 10.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Des Moines
How many truck crashes happen in Des Moines?
6,019 truck crashes have been reported in King County since 2015, with 156 deaths and 1,063 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Des Moines?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Des Moines since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Des Moines?
October has the most truck crashes in King County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Des Moines?
Garbage trucks were involved in 180 reported crashes in King County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Des Moines compare with Washington?
The yearly rate is 22.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in King County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Des Moines?
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.