Fatal crashes in Washington
In 2024, 730 people died in 674 fatal crashes on Washington roads, 9.8% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Washington ranks 20th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and joint 39th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Washington since 1975
Road deaths in Washington peaked in 1979 at 1,015; 2024's 730 is 28% below that. The lowest year was 2013 with 436. 2024 is 16% above 2000 and 4% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 730 | 674 | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 809 | 732 | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 743 | 701 | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 674 | 607 | +17.4% |
| 2020 | 574 | 539 | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 538 | 513 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 539 | 490 | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 563 | 534 | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 536 | 504 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 551 | 499 | +19.3% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 462 | 429 | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 436 | 401 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 438 | 403 | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 454 | 421 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 460 | 422 | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 492 | 453 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 521 | 482 | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 571 | 531 | -9.8% |
| 2006 | 633 | 578 | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 649 | 580 | +14.5% |
| 2004 | 567 | 509 | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 600 | 539 | -8.8% |
| 2002 | 658 | 586 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 649 | 568 | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 631 | 572 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 637 | 574 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 662 | 590 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 674 | 587 | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 712 | 643 | +9.0% |
| 1995 | 653 | 576 | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 640 | 575 | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 661 | 579 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 651 | 592 | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 682 | 602 | -17.3% |
| 1990 | 825 | 726 | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 781 | 694 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 778 | 700 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 780 | 691 | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 703 | 648 | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 744 | 645 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 746 | 674 | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 698 | 628 | -6.7% |
| 1982 | 748 | 671 | -13.2% |
| 1981 | 862 | 784 | -11.2% |
| 1980 | 971 | 847 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 1,015 | 894 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 985 | 865 | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 912 | 797 | +13.4% |
| 1976 | 804 | 694 | +6.1% |
| 1975 | 758 | 668 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Washington
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Washington from 2015 to 2024: 339, with 370 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 29% of all fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 5 US routes, 12 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (103 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Washington, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-5 | 339 | 370 | 108 | King, Pierce, Snohomish |
| 2 | I-90 | 155 | 176 | 57 | Kittitas, King, Spokane |
| 3 | State Highway 99 | 137 | 147 | 58 | King, Snohomish, Pierce |
| 4 | US 2 | 117 | 131 | 44 | Spokane, Snohomish, Chelan |
| 5 | US 101 | 97 | 109 | 40 | Clallam, Mason, Jefferson |
| 6 | State Highway 20 | 84 | 89 | 25 | Skagit, Island, Okanogan |
| 7 | US 12 | 83 | 93 | 28 | Lewis, Yakima, Walla Walla |
| 8 | State Highway 7 | 79 | 83 | 40 | Pierce, Lewis |
| 9 | US 97 | 78 | 90 | 31 | Yakima, Okanogan, Chelan |
| 10 | US 395 | 77 | 85 | 28 | Stevens, Franklin, Spokane |
| 11 | I-82 | 73 | 82 | 18 | Yakima, Benton, Kittitas |
| 12 | State Highway 14 | 52 | 60 | 17 | Clark, Skamania, Klickitat |
| 13 | State Highway 167 | 41 | 42 | 12 | King, Pierce |
| 14 | State Highway 3 | 40 | 40 | 17 | Kitsap, Mason |
| 15 | State Highway 17 | 39 | 42 | 13 | Grant, Adams, Franklin |
| 16 | State Highway 9 | 37 | 42 | 13 | Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom |
| 17 | State Highway 509 | 34 | 40 | 13 | Pierce, King |
| 18 | State Highway 18 | 34 | 36 | 12 | King |
| 19 | State Highway 28 | 31 | 32 | 9 | Grant, Douglas, Lincoln |
| 20 | State Highway 26 | 29 | 36 | 10 | Adams, Grant, Whitman |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Washington as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/washington/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Washington
King County had the most fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024: 1,182, with 1,260 deaths. King, Pierce and Snohomish counties together held 41% of fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 89%. 39 counties in Washington recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Adams County has the highest rate in Washington: 37.1 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 8.2 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King County | 140 | 1,182 | 1,260 | 6.5 |
| 2 | Pierce County | 94 | 733 | 794 | 10.8 |
| 3 | Snohomish County | 59 | 443 | 474 | 7.4 |
| 4 | Spokane County | 52 | 417 | 432 | 9.9 |
| 5 | Yakima County | 32 | 356 | 405 | 13.5 |
| 6 | Clark County | 41 | 300 | 324 | 7.8 |
| 7 | Thurston County | 26 | 207 | 219 | 8.6 |
| 8 | Grant County | 23 | 185 | 208 | 24.8 |
| 9 | Kitsap County | 16 | 167 | 177 | 6.4 |
| 10 | Benton County | 13 | 160 | 177 | 7.8 |
| 11 | Skagit County | 17 | 144 | 150 | 12.8 |
| 12 | Whatcom County | 12 | 141 | 150 | 5.1 |
| 13 | Cowlitz County | 20 | 112 | 125 | 20.2 |
| 14 | Mason County | 14 | 109 | 115 | 21.5 |
| 15 | Lewis County | 8 | 105 | 113 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Kittitas County | 8 | 93 | 106 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Grays Harbor County | 9 | 86 | 92 | 12.8 |
| 18 | Okanogan County | 9 | 78 | 86 | 24.5 |
| 19 | Franklin County | 9 | 73 | 81 | 10.9 |
| 20 | Adams County | 4 | 65 | 75 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/washington/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Washington
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 246 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.7 percent, 214 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 85 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 139 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 195 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 155 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 119 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 136 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 179 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 148 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 136 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 183 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 144 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 151 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 144 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 142 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 118 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 177 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 225 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 246 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 218 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 95 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 217 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 225 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb6.0%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr6.5%
- May8.2%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul10.1%
- Aug10.5%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Washington: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
42% of fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, about the US share; 26% happened at or near an intersection, about the US share; 24% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Washington | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 42% | 43% | about the same as the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 25% | about the same as the US share |
| In daylight | 47% | 46% | about the same as the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 23% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Washington roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 61% of the 730 people killed on Washington roads in 2024; pedestrians 21% (152), motorcyclists 16% (113), cyclists 1.8% (13).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 446 | 61% |
| Pedestrians | 152 | 21% |
| Motorcyclists | 113 | 16% |
| Cyclists | 13 | 1.8% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 6 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Washington: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 31% of fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 31%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 6.3%, about the US share; a driver recorded as distracted in 21%, above the US share of 8.7%; 40% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (3,132 in Washington).
| Washington | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 31% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 31% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 21% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.3% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 37%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 10%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,162 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,471 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 1,085 | 19% |
| Rollover | 594 | 10% |
| Other | 263 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 138 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 79 | 1.4% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Washington
Cars were 40% of the 8,685 vehicles in fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 19%, pickups 17%, motorcycles 12%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 3,460 | 40% |
| SUVs | 1,651 | 19% |
| Pickups | 1,473 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 1,017 | 12% |
| Truck-tractors | 375 | 4.3% |
| Vans | 330 | 3.8% |
| Other trucks | 327 | 3.8% |
| Buses | 52 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Washington per resident and per mile driven
| Washington | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 9.2 | 11.5 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 8.2 | 11.8 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.21 | 1.19 | about the US rate |
Population 7,958,180 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 60,555 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Washington
- How many people died in car accidents in Washington in 2024?
- 730 people died in 674 fatal crashes on Washington roads in 2024, 9.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Washington?
- I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Washington from 2015 to 2024: 339, with 370 deaths. I-90 was second with 155.
- Which county in Washington has the most fatal crashes?
- King County, with 1,182 fatal crashes and 1,260 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 140 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Washington happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 246 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Washington involved a drinking driver?
- 1,800 of 5,793 fatal crashes in Washington from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 31%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Washington
Every county in Washington with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- King County 1,182
- Pierce County 733
- Snohomish County 443
- Spokane County 417
- Yakima County 356
- Clark County 300
- Thurston County 207
- Grant County 185
- Kitsap County 167
- Benton County 160
- Skagit County 144
- Whatcom County 141
- Cowlitz County 112
- Mason County 109
- Lewis County 105
- Kittitas County 93
- Grays Harbor County 86
- Okanogan County 78
- Franklin County 73
- Adams County 65
- Chelan County 63
- Stevens County 63
- Clallam County 62
- Island County 62
- Jefferson County 48
- Walla Walla County 48
- Whitman County 39
- Douglas County 38
- Lincoln County 34
- Klickitat County 33
- Skamania County 33
Road pages for Washington
Every numbered road in Washington with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Washington numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.