US 97 in Washington: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 78 fatal crashes on US 97 in Washington killed 90 people, the 9th most of any numbered road in Washington. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 8 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 6 counties of Washington. All fatal crashes in Washington.
Deaths on US 97 in Washington by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 | 6 |
| 2019 | 8 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 | 12 |
| 2021 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 16 | 17 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 97 in Washington: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Yakima County had the most fatal crashes on US 97 from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 38 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima | 5 | 32 | 38 |
| 2 | Okanogan | 0 | 16 | 19 |
| 3 | Chelan | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | Douglas | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Kittitas | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Klickitat | 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 US 97 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 | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 9.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb1.3%
- Mar10.3%
- Apr9.0%
- May9.0%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug14.1%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec6.4%
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 97 in Washington first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 42 | 54% |
| Pedestrian | 16 | 21% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 14% |
| Rollover | 4 | 5.1% |
| Other | 4 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.3% |
| 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 97 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.
| US 97 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 81% | 42% | above the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 30% | 26% | above the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 24% | above the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| Speeding | 12% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 27% | 40% | below the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 6.3% | below the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.4% | 17% | below the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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
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 12
- US 2
- US 395
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every road ranked.
Where the US 97 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 97 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.