Fatal crashes in King County, Washington
In 2024, 152 people died in 140 fatal crashes in King County, 9.5% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,182 fatal crashes and 1,260 deaths, the most of any county in Washington.
6.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.2 across Washington in 2024; 5.6 against 8.2 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 2,340,211, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Washington.
Deaths in King County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 140 | 152 |
| 2023 | 151 | 168 |
| 2022 | 146 | 151 |
| 2021 | 126 | 137 |
| 2020 | 107 | 110 |
| 2019 | 105 | 107 |
| 2018 | 101 | 115 |
| 2017 | 110 | 111 |
| 2016 | 96 | 100 |
| 2015 | 100 | 109 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in King County
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in King County from 2015 to 2024: 100, with 108 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 38% of all fatal crashes in King County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 12 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-5 | 100 | 108 | 40 | |
| 2 | State Highway 99 | 94 | 102 | 36 | |
| 3 | I-90 | 41 | 46 | 17 | |
| 4 | State Highway 18 | 34 | 36 | 12 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 516 | 23 | 27 | 12 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 167 | 22 | 23 | 9 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 169 | 22 | 22 | 7 | no page |
| 8 | I-405 | 21 | 22 | 7 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 164 | 18 | 20 | 8 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 522 | 17 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 509 | 16 | 16 | 5 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 181 | 15 | 15 | 5 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 900 | 13 | 14 | 4 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 515 | 10 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 202 | 9 | 10 | 4 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Seattle 286, Kent 113, Auburn 73, Federal Way 72, Renton 54, Tukwila 49, Seatac 42, Burien 25. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
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 King County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 61 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 11 pm to midnight; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.1 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 37 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 40 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 39 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 52 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.2 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 39 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.4%
- Feb7.2%
- Mar6.5%
- Apr6.8%
- May7.5%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul8.6%
- Aug9.6%
- Sep9.5%
- Oct10.2%
- Nov8.8%
- Dec10.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in King County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 34%; a pedestrian in 29%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 403 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 343 | 29% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 278 | 24% |
| Rollover | 53 | 4.5% |
| Other | 43 | 3.6% |
| Cyclist | 40 | 3.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 22 | 1.9% |
| 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 in King County compare with Washington
A drinking driver was recorded in 28% of fatal crashes in King County from 2015 to 2024, below the Washington share of 31%; speeding in 31%, about the Washington share; a hit-and-run in 10%, above the Washington share of 6.3%; a driver recorded as distracted in 19%, below the Washington share of 21%; 42% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the Washington share of 40%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Washington. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| King | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 11% | 42% | below the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 26% | above the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 13% | 24% | below the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 28% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| Speeding | 31% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 19% | 21% | below the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 40% | above the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 10% | 6.3% | above the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 17% | below the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 29% | 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
Questions about fatal crashes in King County
- How many people died in car accidents in King County in 2024?
- 152 people died in 140 fatal crashes in King County, Washington, in 2024, 9.5% fewer than in 2023. That is 6.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.2 across Washington.
- What is the deadliest road in King County?
- I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in King County from 2015 to 2024: 100, with 108 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in King County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 61 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in King County involved a drinking driver?
- 336 of 1,182 fatal crashes in King County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 28%, against 31% across Washington.
Other counties in Washington with a page
- Pierce County
- Snohomish County
- Spokane County
- Yakima County
- Clark County
- Thurston County
- Grant County
- Kitsap County
- Benton County
- Skagit County
- Whatcom County
- Cowlitz County
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every county ranked.
Where the King County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in King County (county code 33). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. The full method.