Union Gap, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union Gap: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union Gap 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. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Union Gap at a glance: US-97 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Union Gap.
Overview
Police reported 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks in Yakima County since 2015: 237 people were injured and 60 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
Only 96 truck crashes were reported in Union Gap since 2015; patterns below come from Yakima County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 11.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.1% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
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 within 10 miles of Union Gap with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-HARRAH Rd (2), CR-LATERAL A Rd (2) and I-82 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 16 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for Union Gap fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Yakima County.
- Check whether your routes use US-97, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 12.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Washington; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Yakima County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-97 | 3 |
| CR-HARRAH Rd | 2 |
| CR-LATERAL A Rd | 2 |
| I-82 | 2 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| SR-823 | 2 |
| CR-AHTANUM Rd | 1 |
| CR-KONNOWAC Pass Rd | 1 |
| CR-SUMMITVIEW Rd | 1 |
| E Nob Hill 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 |
Union Gap at a glance
| Population | 6,582 |
| Land area | 5.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,180 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 Union Gap
How many truck crashes happen in Union Gap?
Yakima County has had 1,097 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 237 people and killing 60.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union Gap?
Since 2015, US-97 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Union Gap: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Union Gap?
September has the most truck crashes in Yakima County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union Gap?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Yakima County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Union Gap 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 can I plan a safer truck route in Union Gap?
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.