ZIP 97117 (Gales Creek, OR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 97117: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Washington County, 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Oregon
Washington County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.6 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 50% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 46% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 80% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.0% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.9% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 14% below the state |
| After dark | 16.4% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 35% below the state |
Washington County sits below Oregon on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Washington County: 1 in 28 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.5%, vs 2.0% in Oregon.
Overview
Police reported 1,473 crashes involving commercial trucks in Washington County since 2015: 464 people were injured and 29 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.9% of truck crashes, vs 45.1% for Oregon.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Oregon: 13.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-6 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come US-26 (3), SR-8 (1) and Sr- 6 Odot 37 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 54 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 2.0% in Oregon.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 97117 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-6 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Washington County.
- Morning starts matter: 27.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Oregon.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-6 | 5 |
| US-26 | 3 |
| SR-8 | 1 |
| Sr- 6 Odot 37 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 .25 S Bridgeport Rd On Ramp | 6 |
| I-5 .07 N I-205 On Ramp | 5 |
| Hwy 47 & Maple St | 4 |
| I-5 .03 N I-205 Exit | 4 |
| I-5 .06 S I-205 On Ramp | 4 |
| I-5 .14 N Hwy 217 On Ramp | 4 |
| I-5 .21 S I-205 Exit | 4 |
| I-5 .25 N Nyberg Rd Exit | 4 |
ZIP 97117 at a glance
| Population | 982 |
| Density | 10 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $121,818 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 41 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 78 | +90% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 115 | +47% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 119 | +3% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 41 a year in the 1990s and 119 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 97117
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 97117?
Since 2015, 1,473 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (464 injured, 29 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 97117?
NHTSA data shows SR-6 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 97117 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 97117?
Truck crashes in Washington County peak in September, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 97117?
Garbage trucks were involved in 54 reported crashes in Washington County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 97117 compared with Oregon?
The yearly rate is 20.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 41.0 for Oregon.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 97117?
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.