I-5 in Washington: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 339 fatal crashes on I-5 in Washington killed 370 people, the most of any numbered road in Washington. In 2024 there were 37 fatal crashes and 39 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 9 counties of Washington. All fatal crashes in Washington.
Deaths on I-5 in Washington by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 33 | 34 |
| 2016 | 31 | 34 |
| 2017 | 39 | 40 |
| 2018 | 32 | 37 |
| 2019 | 28 | 29 |
| 2020 | 27 | 28 |
| 2021 | 41 | 45 |
| 2022 | 42 | 45 |
| 2023 | 29 | 39 |
| 2024 | 37 | 39 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-5 in Washington: the counties with the most fatal crashes
King County had the most fatal crashes on I-5 from 2015 to 2024: 100, with 108 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King | 12 | 100 | 108 |
| 2 | Pierce | 10 | 60 | 67 |
| 3 | Snohomish | 5 | 44 | 47 |
| 4 | Thurston | 3 | 32 | 35 |
| 5 | Whatcom | 1 | 26 | 27 |
| 6 | Clark | 2 | 24 | 26 |
| 7 | Cowlitz | 2 | 23 | 29 |
| 8 | Skagit | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| 9 | Lewis | 2 | 13 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-5 in Washington
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 26 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 am to 4 am; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 7.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 7.7 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.3%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar12.1%
- Apr4.7%
- May6.8%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul10.9%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep8.8%
- Oct9.7%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec8.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-5 in Washington first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 131 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 89 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 67 | 20% |
| Rollover | 20 | 5.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 17 | 5.0% |
| Other | 12 | 3.5% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 0.9% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on I-5 in Washington compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Washington. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-5 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 20% | 42% | below the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 1.2% | 26% | below the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 24% | above the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Speeding | 34% | 31% | above the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 40% | below the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.3% | 6.3% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 17% | below the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 18% | above the Washington share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Other roads in Washington with a page
- I-82
- I-90
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 7
- State Highway 99
- US 101
- US 12
- US 2
- US 395
- US 97
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every road ranked.
Where the I-5 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-5 in Washington (filed under 3 spellings, such as "I-5", "I-5 CD16563", "I-5 RL005EXP"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.