ZIP 98944 (Sunnyside, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98944: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Benton 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
14 of 950 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benton County compares with Washington
Benton County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benton County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.2 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.4% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.1% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.5% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Benton County sits below Washington on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Benton County: 13.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Overview
Police reported 950 crashes involving commercial trucks in Benton County since 2015: 160 people were injured and 32 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.6% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
13.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98944 since 2015: SR-24 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 14 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98944 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 13.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Washington), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Benton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-24 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benton County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-395*018.00 | 8 |
| Sr-240*033.90 | 6 |
| Sr-240*043.00 | 5 |
| Sr-395*014.00 | 5 |
| Sr-395*018.60 | 5 |
| Sellards Road/Travis Road | 4 |
| Sr-14*160.90 | 4 |
| Sr-14*167.25 | 4 |
ZIP 98944 at a glance
| Population | 22,817 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,276 |
| Median home value | $246,129 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benton 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 | 28 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 44 | +54% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 64 | +47% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 87 | +35% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 28 a year in the 1990s and 87 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98944
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98944?
Since 2015, 950 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Benton County (160 injured, 32 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 98944?
The worst month is January: 10.4% of truck crashes in Benton County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 98944?
Since 2015, Benton County has reported 14 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 98944 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Benton County has 37.2 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 98944?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.