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 179 numbered roads in Washington. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 8 deaths on the road.
A 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 8 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 16 | 17 |
| 2021 | 10 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 | 12 |
| 2019 | 8 | 12 |
| 2018 | 4 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
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. Yakima, Okanogan and Chelan counties together held 74% of fatal crashes on US 97 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima County | 5 | 32 | 38 |
| 2 | Okanogan County | 0 | 16 | 19 |
| 3 | Chelan County | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | Douglas County | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Kittitas County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Klickitat 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 US 97 in Washington
78 fatal crashes on US 97 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 August.
| 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 crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 9.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 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
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a pedestrian in 21%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 14%, a rollover in 5.1%.
| 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
The largest difference from Washington: from 2015 to 2024, 81% of fatal crashes on US 97 in Washington were on rural roads, against 42% across Washington. Below the Washington share: speeding, unbelted occupants and 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 78 crashes.
| US 97 | Washington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 81% | 42% | above the Washington share |
| At or near an intersection | 30% | 26% | about the same as the Washington share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 24% | about the same as the Washington share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 31% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Speeding | 12% | 31% | below the Washington share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 13% | 21% | about the same as the Washington share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 27% | 40% | below the Washington share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 6.3% | about the same as 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
Questions about fatal crashes on US 97 in Washington
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 97 in Washington?
- 78 fatal crashes killed 90 people on US 97 in Washington from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 8 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 97 in Washington do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Yakima County had the most fatal crashes on US 97 from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 38 deaths. Okanogan County was second with 16.
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. 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.