South Cle Elum, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Cle Elum: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in South Cle Elum and Kittitas County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kittitas County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 1,375 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kittitas County compares with Washington
Kittitas County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kittitas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kittitas County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 248.4 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 9.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.10 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 44% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 83% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 35.2% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 3.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.8% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.1% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 33.5% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Kittitas County sits below Washington on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Kittitas County at a glance: 35.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.7% in Washington.
Overview
Police reported 1,375 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kittitas County since 2015: 142 people were injured and 28 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 4 truck crashes reported in South Cle Elum since 2015, this page uses Kittitas County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 15.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 55.1% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
The busiest hour is 5–6 am, with 6.8% of truck crashes.
35.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
I-90 leads within 10 miles of South Cle Elum with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-970 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.4% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for South Cle Elum fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kittitas County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-90; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 35.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Washington; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Kittitas County
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 (Kittitas County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-10*103.60 | 5 |
| Sr-97*163.20 | 4 |
| I-90 Mp 114.90 | 3 |
| Sr-97*150.00 | 3 |
| Sr-97*153.00 | 3 |
| Sr-97*163.00 | 3 |
| Sr-97*165.00 | 3 |
| Canyon Rd Blk 7100 | 2 |
South Cle Elum at a glance
| Population | 572 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,423 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 Kittitas 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 | 71 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 72 | +2% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 108 | +49% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 119 | +11% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 71 to 119. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Cle Elum
How many truck crashes happen in South Cle Elum?
1,375 truck crashes have been reported in Kittitas County since 2015, with 28 deaths and 142 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in South Cle Elum?
Since 2015, I-90 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of South Cle Elum: 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in South Cle Elum?
December has the most truck crashes in Kittitas County, 15.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in South Cle Elum?
Since 2015, Kittitas County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in South Cle Elum compared with Washington?
Per 100,000 residents, Kittitas County has 248.4 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in South 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.