Thurston County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Thurston 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
13 of 898 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Thurston County compares with Washington
Thurston County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Thurston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Thurston County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.0 | 25.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 34% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 64% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.1% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Washington, Thurston County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
Thurston County at a glance: I-5 most fatal truck crashes in Thurston County: 11 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 898 crashes involving commercial trucks in Thurston County since 2015: 138 people were injured and 25 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 5 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.4% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (7.2%).
Road surface: 3.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Thurston County is I-5, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-93RD Ave Se (1), CR-OLD Highway 99 (1) and CR-OLD Hwy 99 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for Thurston County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Thurston County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Thurston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Thurston County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 11 |
| CR-93RD Ave Se | 1 |
| CR-OLD Highway 99 | 1 |
| CR-OLD Hwy 99 | 1 |
| CR-OLD Hwy 99 Sw | 1 |
| CR-RAINER Rd Se | 1 |
| Martin Way E | 1 |
| Mu-Willamette Dr Ne | 1 |
| SR-507 | 1 |
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Thurston County) |
|---|---|
| Mullen Rd Se Blk 8100 | 11 |
| I-5 Mp 104.40 | 5 |
| Sr-101*367.00 | 5 |
| Mullen Rd Blk 8100 | 4 |
| Sr-101*362.00 | 4 |
| Sr-12*046.00 | 4 |
| Sr-121*007.00 | 4 |
| Martin Way E Blk 4700 | 3 |
Thurston County at a glance
| Population | 302,912 |
| Land area | 722.5 sq mi |
| Density | 419 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $97,203 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Thurston 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 | 35 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 56 | +58% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 64 | +15% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 79 | +24% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 35 to 79. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Thurston County
ZIP codes in Thurston County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Thurston County
How many truck crashes happen in Thurston County?
Since 2015, 898 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Thurston County (138 injured, 25 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Thurston County?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Thurston County: 11.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Thurston County?
Truck crashes in Thurston County peak in October, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Thurston County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 13 reported crashes in Thurston County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Thurston County compared with Washington?
Thurston County records 25.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Thurston County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.