ZIP 98040 (Mercer Island, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98040: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in King 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
0.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How King County compares with Washington
King County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where King County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | King County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 22.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 56% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
King County sits below Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 98040: 1.7× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98040 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (6.8 vs 4.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in King County. They injured 1,063 people and killed 156.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (7.4%).
November through March accounts for 41.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 98040 with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-181 (5), I-405 (4) and I-90 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 180 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.6, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98040 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in King County.
- 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 King County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 11 |
| SR-181 | 5 |
| I-405 | 4 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| SR-900 | 2 |
| SR-99 | 2 |
| 1st Ave S | 1 |
| 30th Ave | 1 |
| 37th Ave S | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (King County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-167*026.00 | 24 |
| Sr-167*024.00 | 23 |
| Sr-167*014.00 | 22 |
| Sr-18*026.30 | 19 |
| Sr-167*019.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*002.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*001.00 | 17 |
| Sr-18*003.00 | 16 |
ZIP 98040 at a glance
| Population | 25,307 |
| Density | 1,531 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $219,069 |
| Median home value | $1,989,868 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in King 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 | 330 | — | 10.3 |
| 2000s | 344 | +4% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 451 | +31% | 7.2 |
| 2020s | 523 | +16% | 14.6 |
In the 1990s about 330 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 523. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 10.0 a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98040
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 98040?
Since 2015, 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in King County (1,063 injured, 156 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 98040?
I-5 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98040 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 98040?
Truck crashes in King County peak in October, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 98040?
180 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in King County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 98040 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 22.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in King County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 98040?
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.