Colton, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Colton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Colton and Whitman County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Whitman County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 209 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Whitman County compares with Washington
Whitman County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Whitman County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Whitman County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.2 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 8% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.2% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 40% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.2% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Whitman County sits below Washington on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Whitman County: 17.2% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.7% across Washington.
Overview
Police reported 209 crashes involving commercial trucks in Whitman County since 2015: 38 people were injured and 11 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 20 days.
Colton had 5 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Whitman County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (14.8% of the year) and are lowest in June (4.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 10.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 17.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Colton since 2015: US-195 (3) and CR-WAWAWAI Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Route planning tips for Colton fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Whitman County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 17.2% 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 Whitman County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-195 | 3 |
| CR-WAWAWAI Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Whitman County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-128*001.00 | 3 |
| Sr-195*000.50 | 3 |
| Farmington Rd/Sr-27 | 2 |
| Sr-128*000.50 | 2 |
| Sr-194*003.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*002.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*018.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*036.50 | 2 |
Colton at a glance
| Population | 401 |
| Land area | 0.6 sq mi |
| Density | 650 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 99113) | $104,643 |
| Median home value (ZIP 99113) | $451,988 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Whitman 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 | 7 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 14 | +93% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 17 | +21% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 16 | -4% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 16 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Colton
How many truck accidents are there in Colton?
Whitman County has had 209 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 38 people and killing 11.
When do most truck crashes happen in Colton?
The worst month is August: 14.8% of truck crashes in Whitman County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Colton?
Since 2015, Whitman County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Colton compare with Washington?
Whitman County records 37.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Colton?
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.