Spokane County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spokane 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
3.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Spokane County compares with Washington
Spokane County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Spokane County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Spokane County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.7% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.0% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.9% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.0% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Spokane County has lower values than Washington for crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Spokane County: 17.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.7% in Washington.
Overview
Police reported 1,167 crashes involving commercial trucks in Spokane County since 2015: 200 people were injured and 41 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.9% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.7% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
I-90 leads in Spokane County with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-290 (7), US-2 (5) and US-195 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 34 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Their busiest month is January, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.2 deaths compared with 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Spokane County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Spokane County.
- Look at alternatives to I-90 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 29.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Washington; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 17.7% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; schedule winter 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 Spokane County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Spokane County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 8 |
| SR-290 | 7 |
| US-2 | 5 |
| US-195 | 4 |
| CR-N Wood Rd | 2 |
| SR-206 | 2 |
| SR-27 | 2 |
| CR-ARGONNE | 1 |
| E Broadway Ave | 1 |
| Mu-E Bigelow Gulch Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Spokane County) |
|---|---|
| S Stevens St Blk 100 | 6 |
| Altamont/Main | 4 |
| Trent | 4 |
| E Broadway Ave/N Thierman Rd | 3 |
| I 90 Mp 270.00 | 3 |
| S Stevens Blk 100 | 3 |
| Sr-2*276.22 | 3 |
| Sr-290*005.81 | 3 |
Spokane County at a glance
| Population | 555,947 |
| Land area | 1,764.2 sq mi |
| Density | 315 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $81,647 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Spokane 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 | 48 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 66 | +39% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 83 | +24% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 110 | +33% | 5.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 48 a year in the 1990s and 110 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Spokane County
ZIP codes in Spokane County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Spokane County
How many truck crashes happen in Spokane County?
Spokane County has had 1,167 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 200 people and killing 41.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Spokane County?
I-90 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Spokane County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Spokane County?
Truck crashes in Spokane County peak in December, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Spokane County?
34 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Spokane County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Spokane County compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Spokane County records 18.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Spokane County?
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.