US 12 in Washington: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 83 fatal crashes on US 12 in Washington killed 93 people, the 7th most of any numbered road in Washington. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 9 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 10 counties of Washington. All fatal crashes in Washington.
Deaths on US 12 in Washington by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 13 | 14 |
| 2018 | 4 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 12 in Washington: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Yakima County County had the most fatal crashes on US 12 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 21 deaths. Yakima, Lewis and Walla Walla counties together held 59% of fatal crashes in US 12 in Washington from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 94%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima County | 2 | 17 | 21 |
| 2 | Lewis County | 1 | 17 | 20 |
| 3 | Walla Walla County | 4 | 15 | 15 |
| 4 | Grays Harbor County | 1 | 13 | 15 |
| 5 | Thurston County | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | Garfield County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
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 US 12 in Washington
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 8.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.4%
- Feb3.6%
- Mar10.8%
- Apr3.6%
- May7.2%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug14.5%
- Sep7.2%
- Oct10.8%
- Nov9.6%
- Dec4.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 12 in Washington first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 57%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 7.2%, a pedestrian in 6.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 47 | 57% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 24% |
| Rollover | 6 | 7.2% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 6.0% |
| Other | 3 | 3.6% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.4% |
| 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 US 12 in Washington compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 27% of fatal crashes in US 12 in Washington from 2015 to 2024, below the Washington share of 31%; speeding in 16%, below the Washington share of 31%; a hit-and-run in 2.4%, below the Washington share of 6.3%; a driver recorded as distracted in 21%, about the Washington share; 23% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below 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.
| US 12 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 70% | 42% | above the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 26% | below the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 24% | above the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| Speeding | 16% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 21% | 21% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 23% | 40% | below the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.4% | 6.3% | below the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 17% | above the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.4% | 18% | below 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 US 12 in Washington
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 12 in Washington?
- 83 fatal crashes killed 93 people on US 12 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 9 deaths.
- Where on US 12 in Washington do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Yakima County had the most fatal crashes on US 12 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 21 deaths. Lewis County was second with 17.
Other roads in Washington with a page
- I-5
- I-82
- I-90
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 7
- State Highway 99
- US 101
- US 2
- US 395
- US 97
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every road ranked.
Where the US 12 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 12 in Washington. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.