Cle Elum, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cle Elum: 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 737 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cle Elum compares with Washington
Cle Elum against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cle Elum stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cle Elum | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 2,843.9 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 110.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.10 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 44% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 94% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 40.5% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 4.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.6% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 44.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 2.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.3% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 33.3% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Cle Elum has lower values than Washington for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Cle Elum: 40.5% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Overview
Police reported 737 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cle Elum since 2015: 71 people were injured and 19 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (15.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.3% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 40.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Cle Elum is I-90, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-970 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Route planning tips for Cle Elum fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-90, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- With 40.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Washington), plan winter equipment 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 Cle Elum
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 4 |
| SR-970 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cle Elum) |
|---|---|
| Sr-97*150.00 | 3 |
| Sr-97*153.00 | 3 |
| Sr-970*002.69 | 2 |
| Sr-97*163.00 | 2 |
| Sr-97*153.30 | 2 |
| Sr-97*153.40 | 2 |
| Sr-97*156.00 | 2 |
| Sr-97*156.50 | 2 |
Cle Elum at a glance
| Population | 2,276 |
| Land area | 4.5 sq mi |
| Density | 507 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98943) | $66,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98943) | $401,254 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cle Elum 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 | 23 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 32 | +39% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 62 | +92% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 62 | -1% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 23 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 62. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cle Elum
How many truck accidents are there in Cle Elum?
737 truck crashes have been reported in Cle Elum since 2015, with 19 deaths and 71 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Cle Elum?
NHTSA data shows I-90 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cle Elum since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cle Elum?
December has the most truck crashes in Cle Elum, 15.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cle Elum?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Cle Elum since 2015 (0.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Cle Elum compared with Washington?
Per 100,000 residents, Cle Elum has 2,843.9 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cle Elum?
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.