State Highway 20 in Washington: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 84 fatal crashes on State Highway 20 in Washington killed 89 people, the 6th most of 179 numbered roads in Washington. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 9 counties of Washington. All fatal crashes in Washington.
Deaths on State Highway 20 in Washington by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 14 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | 14 | 15 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 11 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 20 in Washington: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Skagit County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 20 from 2015 to 2024: 38, with 41 deaths. Skagit, Island and Okanogan counties together held 75% of fatal crashes on State Highway 20 in Washington from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 87%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skagit County | 6 | 38 | 41 |
| 2 | Island County | 5 | 17 | 18 |
| 3 | Okanogan County | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 4 | Jefferson County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Pend Oreille County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 State Highway 20 in Washington
83 fatal crashes on State Highway 20 in Washington from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 10 am to 11 am; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.0%
- Feb3.6%
- Mar7.1%
- Apr7.1%
- May4.8%
- Jun15.5%
- Jul9.5%
- Aug9.5%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct8.3%
- Nov6.0%
- Dec14.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 20 in Washington first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 39 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 12% |
| Rollover | 9 | 11% |
| Other | 5 | 6.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 State Highway 20 in Washington compare with the state
The largest difference from Washington: from 2015 to 2024, 73% of fatal crashes on State Highway 20 in Washington were on rural roads, against 42% across Washington. Also above the Washington share: motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Washington. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 84 crashes.
| State Highway 20 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 73% | 42% | above the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 26% | about the same as the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 24% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Speeding | 27% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 16% | 21% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 30% | 40% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.4% | 6.3% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 29% | 17% | above the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 18% | about the same as 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 on State Highway 20 in Washington
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 20 in Washington?
- 84 fatal crashes killed 89 people on State Highway 20 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 20 in Washington do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Skagit County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 20 from 2015 to 2024: 38, with 41 deaths. Island County was second with 17.
Other roads in Washington with a page
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 20 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 20 in Washington. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.