South Prairie, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Prairie: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in South Prairie and Pierce County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pierce County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Pierce County compares with Washington
Pierce County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pierce County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pierce County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.4 | 25.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 29% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.0% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 79% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.0% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Washington, Pierce County is lower on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in South Prairie: SR-161 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of South Prairie since 2015.
Overview
Pierce County has recorded 2,807 truck crashes since 2015, with 514 people injured and 87 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in South Prairie since 2015; patterns below come from Pierce County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.0% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.0% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
SR-161 leads within 10 miles of South Prairie with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-200TH St E (1), CR-ORTING Kapowsin Hwy (1) and CR-ORVILLE Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (14% of them).
They recorded 4.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for South Prairie fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use SR-161, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Pierce County.
- 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 Pierce County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-161 | 2 |
| CR-200TH St E | 1 |
| CR-ORTING Kapowsin Hwy | 1 |
| CR-ORVILLE Rd | 1 |
| CR-ORVILLE Rd E | 1 |
| CR-VALLEY Ave E | 1 |
| SR-162 | 1 |
| SR-164 | 1 |
| SR-167 | 1 |
| SR-169 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pierce County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-512*001.00 | 30 |
| Sr-167*006.00 | 19 |
| Sr-167*010.00 | 17 |
| Sr-167*007.00 | 16 |
| Sr-509*002.00 | 15 |
| Sr-167*008.00 | 14 |
| Sr-167*009.00 | 13 |
| Sr-16*001.00 | 13 |
South Prairie at a glance
| Population | 367 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 958 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98385) | $152,500 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98385) | $509,949 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pierce 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 | 100 | — | 4.5 |
| 2000s | 147 | +47% | 5.4 |
| 2010s | 200 | +36% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 246 | +23% | 8.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 100 to 246. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 7.0 a year in 2016–19 and 8.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Prairie
How many truck crashes happen in South Prairie?
2,807 truck crashes have been reported in Pierce County since 2015, with 87 deaths and 514 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in South Prairie?
NHTSA data shows SR-161 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of South Prairie since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in South Prairie?
January has the most truck crashes in Pierce County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in South Prairie?
44 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pierce County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in South Prairie compared with Washington?
Per 100,000 residents, Pierce County has 25.4 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in South Prairie?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.