ZIP 98198 (Seattle, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98198: 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. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 98198: 2.3× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98198 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (9.8 vs 4.2).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in King County. They injured 1,063 people and killed 156.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.3% of the year) and are lowest in May (7.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 98198 is I-5, with 12 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-167 (8), SR-99 (8) and SR-181 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
180 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.0% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.6 deaths compared with 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98198 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.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 King County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 12 |
| SR-167 | 8 |
| SR-99 | 8 |
| SR-181 | 7 |
| I-405 | 3 |
| SR-509 | 3 |
| SR-516 | 3 |
| 37th Ave S | 1 |
| 4th St Se | 1 |
| Albaum Blvd Sw | 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 98198 at a glance
| Population | 40,463 |
| Density | 2,022 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $86,239 |
| Median home value | $590,984 |
| Home ownership | 55% |
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. NHTSA counts 10.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98198
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98198?
Since 2015, 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in King County (1,063 injured, 156 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 98198?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98198 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 98198?
The worst month is October: 9.3% of truck crashes in King County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 98198?
Garbage trucks were involved in 180 reported crashes in King County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 98198 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, King County has 22.1 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 98198?
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.