Sudden Valley, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sudden Valley: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sudden Valley and Whatcom County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Whatcom County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 550 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Whatcom County compares with Washington
Whatcom County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Whatcom County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Whatcom County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.0 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.1% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Whatcom County sits below Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Sudden Valley: I-5 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Sudden Valley: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Whatcom County has recorded 550 truck crashes since 2015, with 73 people injured and 16 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Sudden Valley since 2015, this page uses Whatcom County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 4.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.1% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.1% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 10 miles of Sudden Valley with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-542 (2), CR-HANNEGAN Rd (1) and SR-9 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.4% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Sudden Valley fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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
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 Whatcom County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 4 |
| SR-542 | 2 |
| CR-HANNEGAN Rd | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Whatcom County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-539*003.50 | 3 |
| Sr-539*008.57 | 3 |
| Sr-546*003.00 | 3 |
| Sr-9*086.00 | 3 |
| E Sunset Dr Blk 1800 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd Blk 6200 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd/E Smith Rd | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Road/Central Road | 2 |
Sudden Valley at a glance
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98229) | $90,945 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98229) | $631,024 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Whatcom 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 | 27 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 40 | +44% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 44 | +11% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 48 | +8% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 27 to 48. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sudden Valley
How common are truck crashes in Sudden Valley?
Whatcom County has had 550 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 73 people and killing 16.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Sudden Valley?
I-5 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Sudden Valley since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Sudden Valley?
January has the most truck crashes in Whatcom County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sudden Valley?
Since 2015, Whatcom County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Sudden Valley compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Whatcom County has 20.0 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Sudden Valley?
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.