I-90 in Washington: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 155 fatal crashes on I-90 in Washington killed 176 people, the 2nd most of 179 numbered roads in Washington. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 15 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 6 counties of Washington. All fatal crashes in Washington. I-90 in every state.
Deaths on I-90 in Washington by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 15 |
| 2023 | 23 | 30 |
| 2022 | 21 | 22 |
| 2021 | 15 | 17 |
| 2020 | 8 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 17 | 20 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 19 | 22 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-90 in Washington: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Kittitas County had the most fatal crashes on I-90 from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 64 deaths. Kittitas, King and Spokane counties together held 77% of fatal crashes on I-90 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kittitas County | 3 | 52 | 64 |
| 2 | King County | 4 | 41 | 46 |
| 3 | Spokane County | 5 | 26 | 27 |
| 4 | Adams County | 1 | 17 | 18 |
| 5 | Grant County | 0 | 13 | 15 |
| 6 | Lincoln 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 I-90 in Washington
155 fatal crashes on I-90 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 noon to 1 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.0%
- Feb5.2%
- Mar5.2%
- Apr7.7%
- May7.7%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug11.0%
- Sep11.6%
- Oct7.1%
- Nov7.1%
- Dec11.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-90 in Washington
5.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 297 miles of I-90 in Washington, against 8 for all interstates in Washington. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in Washington and 129 of 172 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-90 in Washington first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 30%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a rollover in 23%, a pedestrian in 9.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 46 | 30% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 44 | 28% |
| Rollover | 36 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 14 | 9.0% |
| Other | 9 | 5.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 3.9% |
| Cyclist | 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 I-90 in Washington compare with the state
The largest difference from Washington: from 2015 to 2024, 76% of fatal crashes on I-90 in Washington were on rural roads, against 42% across Washington. Also above the Washington share: unlit roads at night. Below it: intersections, drinking drivers, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. 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 155 crashes.
| I-90 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 76% | 42% | above the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 26% | below the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 24% | above the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| Speeding | 28% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 21% | 21% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 40% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 6.3% | below the Washington share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 17% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.7% | 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 on I-90 in Washington
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-90 in Washington?
- 155 fatal crashes killed 176 people on I-90 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 15 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-90 in Washington do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Kittitas County had the most fatal crashes on I-90 from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 64 deaths. King County was second with 41.
- How dangerous is I-90 in Washington per mile?
- 5.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 297 miles of road, against 8 for all interstates in Washington. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in Washington and 129 of 172 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Washington with a page
- I-5
- I-82
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 7
- State Highway 99
- US 101
- US 12
- US 2
- US 395
- US 97
All fatal crashes in Washington, with every road ranked.
Where the I-90 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-90 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.