Fatal crashes in Washington
In 2024, 730 people died in 674 fatal crashes on Washington roads, 9.8% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Washington ranks 20th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Washington since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Washington
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Washington from 2015 to 2024: 339, with 370 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (103 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-5 | 339 | 370 | 108 | King, Pierce, Snohomish |
| 2 | I-90 | 155 | 176 | 57 | Kittitas, King, Spokane |
| 3 | State Highway 99 | 137 | 147 | 58 | King, Snohomish, Pierce |
| 4 | US 2 | 117 | 131 | 44 | Spokane, Snohomish, Chelan |
| 5 | US 101 | 97 | 109 | 40 | Clallam, Mason, Jefferson |
| 6 | State Highway 20 | 84 | 89 | 25 | Skagit, Island, Okanogan |
| 7 | US 12 | 83 | 93 | 28 | Lewis, Yakima, Walla Walla |
| 8 | State Highway 7 | 79 | 83 | 40 | Pierce, Lewis |
| 9 | US 97 | 78 | 90 | 31 | Yakima, Okanogan, Chelan |
| 10 | US 395 | 77 | 85 | 28 | Stevens, Franklin, Spokane |
| 11 | I-82 | 73 | 82 | 18 | Yakima, Benton, Kittitas |
| 12 | State Highway 14 | 52 | 60 | 17 | Clark, Skamania, Klickitat |
| 13 | State Highway 167 | 41 | 42 | 12 | King, Pierce |
| 14 | State Highway 3 | 40 | 40 | 17 | Kitsap, Mason |
| 15 | State Highway 17 | 39 | 42 | 13 | Grant, Adams, Franklin |
| 16 | State Highway 9 | 37 | 42 | 13 | Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom |
| 17 | State Highway 509 | 34 | 40 | 13 | Pierce, King |
| 18 | State Highway 18 | 34 | 36 | 12 | King |
| 19 | State Highway 28 | 31 | 32 | 9 | Grant, Douglas, Lincoln |
| 20 | State Highway 26 | 29 | 36 | 10 | Adams, Grant, Whitman |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Washington
King County had the most fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024: 1,182, with 1,260 deaths. 39 counties in Washington recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King | 140 | 1,182 | 1,260 |
| 2 | Pierce | 94 | 733 | 794 |
| 3 | Snohomish | 59 | 443 | 474 |
| 4 | Spokane | 52 | 417 | 432 |
| 5 | Yakima | 32 | 356 | 405 |
| 6 | Clark | 41 | 300 | 324 |
| 7 | Thurston | 26 | 207 | 219 |
| 8 | Grant | 23 | 185 | 208 |
| 9 | Kitsap | 16 | 167 | 177 |
| 10 | Benton | 13 | 160 | 177 |
| 11 | Skagit | 17 | 144 | 150 |
| 12 | Whatcom | 12 | 141 | 150 |
| 13 | Cowlitz | 20 | 112 | 125 |
| 14 | Mason | 14 | 109 | 115 |
| 15 | Lewis | 8 | 105 | 113 |
| 16 | Kittitas | 8 | 93 | 106 |
| 17 | Grays Harbor | 9 | 86 | 92 |
| 18 | Okanogan | 9 | 78 | 86 |
| 19 | Franklin | 9 | 73 | 81 |
| 20 | Adams | 4 | 65 | 75 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Washington
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 246 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.7 percent, 214 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 85 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 139 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 195 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 155 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 119 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 136 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 179 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 148 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 136 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 183 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 144 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 151 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 144 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 142 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 118 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 177 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 225 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 246 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 218 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 95 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 217 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 225 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb6.0%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr6.5%
- May8.2%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul10.1%
- Aug10.5%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Washington: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Washington | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 42% | 43% | about the same as the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 25% | about the same as the US share |
| In daylight | 47% | 46% | about the same as the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 23% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Washington roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 446 | 61% |
| Pedestrians | 152 | 21% |
| Motorcyclists | 113 | 16% |
| Cyclists | 13 | 1.8% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 6 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Washington: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (3,132 in Washington).
| Washington | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 31% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 31% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.3% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,162 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,471 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 1,085 | 19% |
| Rollover | 594 | 10% |
| Other | 263 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 138 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 79 | 1.4% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Washington
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (8,685 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 3,460 | 40% |
| SUVs | 1,651 | 19% |
| Pickups | 1,473 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 1,017 | 12% |
| Truck-tractors | 375 | 4.3% |
| Vans | 330 | 3.8% |
| Other trucks | 327 | 3.8% |
| Buses | 52 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Washington
Every numbered road in Washington with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Washington numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.