Toppenish, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Toppenish: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Toppenish and Yakima County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Yakima County numbers.
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 has lower values than Washington for garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Toppenish: US-97 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Toppenish: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks in Yakima County since 2015: 237 people were injured and 60 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
With 143 truck crashes reported in Toppenish since 2015, this page uses Yakima County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.1% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Toppenish is US-97, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-22 (4), CR-S Wapato Rd (2) and I-82 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Route planning tips for Toppenish fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Yakima County.
- Look at alternatives to US-97 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 12.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Washington), plan winter equipment 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 Yakima County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-97 | 6 |
| SR-22 | 4 |
| CR-S Wapato Rd | 2 |
| I-82 | 2 |
| SR-223 | 2 |
| CR-BRANCH Rd | 1 |
| CR-FORT Rd | 1 |
| CR-KONNOWAC Pass Rd | 1 |
| CR-LATERAL A Rd | 1 |
| CR-VAN Belle Rd | 1 |
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 |
Toppenish at a glance
| Population | 8,658 |
| Land area | 2.2 sq mi |
| Density | 3,984 per sq mi |
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. NHTSA counts 5.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Toppenish
How many truck accidents are there in Toppenish?
Since 2015, 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Yakima County (237 injured, 60 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Toppenish?
NHTSA data shows US-97 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Toppenish since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Toppenish?
Truck crashes in Yakima County peak in September, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Toppenish?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Yakima County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Toppenish compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Yakima County records 36.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Toppenish?
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.