Yakima County, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Yakima 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
16 of 1,097 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Yakima County compares with Washington
Yakima County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Yakima County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Yakima County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.6 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 30% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.8% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 46% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.1% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Yakima County sits below Washington on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Yakima County: US-97 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Yakima County.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Yakima County. They injured 237 people and killed 60.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.1% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.8% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
US-97 leads in Yakima County with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-82 (6), SR-22 (4) and CR-LATERAL A Rd (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Yakima County fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Yakima County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-97; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 12.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Washington), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Yakima County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Yakima County) |
|---|---|
| US-97 | 9 |
| I-82 | 6 |
| SR-22 | 4 |
| CR-LATERAL A Rd | 3 |
| SR-24 | 3 |
| CR-AHTANUM Rd | 2 |
| CR-BETHANY Rd | 2 |
| CR-HARRAH Rd | 2 |
| CR-S Wapato Rd | 2 |
| CR-SUMMITVIEW Rd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Yakima County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-24*005.00 | 5 |
| Sr-12*176.00 | 4 |
| Sr-12*202.00 | 4 |
| Sr-97*060.80 | 4 |
| Sr-97*076.00 | 4 |
| Dekker Rd/Knowles Rd | 3 |
| Rudkin Rd/E Valley Mall Blvd | 3 |
| Sr-12*154.00 | 3 |
Yakima County at a glance
| Population | 258,523 |
| Land area | 4,294.5 sq mi |
| Density | 60 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,171 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Yakima 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 | 42 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 59 | +38% | 2.5 |
| 2010s | 84 | +44% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 92 | +9% | 6.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 42 a year in the 1990s and 92 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 5.8 a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Yakima County
ZIP codes in Yakima County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Yakima County
How common are truck crashes in Yakima County?
1,097 truck crashes have been reported in Yakima County since 2015, with 60 deaths and 237 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Yakima County?
Since 2015, US-97 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Yakima County: 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Yakima County?
The worst month is September: 11.2% of truck crashes in Yakima County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Yakima County?
Since 2015, Yakima County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
How does Yakima County compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Yakima County has 36.6 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Yakima 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.