Truck accident statistics for King County, Washington (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in King County by year

Truck accident deaths rose from 7 in 2020 to 20 in 2021, fell to 13 in 2022, rose to 19 in 2023 and fell to 11 in 2024. The highest count was 20 in 2021; the lowest was 7 in 2020. The 2024 count was 4 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all traffic deaths attributed to truck accidents was 6.4% in 2020, 14.6% in 2021, 8.6% in 2022, 11.3% in 2023 and 7.2% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 110, 137, 151, 168 and 152 in those respective years. Across the reporting period, the average annual truck accident death count was 14.0.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in King County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 8 deaths, or 11.4%. People in other vehicles accounted for 42 deaths, or 60.0%, the largest person category. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 20 deaths, or 28.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That quoted label represents the FARS nonoccupant grouping, including pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. The other category can include occupants of parked motor vehicles, so the label is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle. These categories describe people killed in the qualifying truck accidents.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

Fatal crashes in King County involved 75 large trucks during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors (semi or tractor-trailer units) accounted for 45 of those trucks, a 60.0% share. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 30. The count of large trucks recorded as jackknifed was 0.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, distinct from the 66 fatal crashes and 70 deaths recorded for the period. A truck accident can involve multiple large trucks. The truck-tractor share therefore describes the large trucks involved in fatal crashes, rather than a share of crashes or people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) recorded 17 deaths (24.3%); Head-on, 8 (11.4%); Rear-end, 11 (15.7%); Sideswipe, 5 (7.1%); and Other, 1 (1.4%). "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 28 deaths (40.0%). This means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, which can be stopped in traffic. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, crash configuration groups truck accident deaths by vehicle count: single-vehicle crashes accounted for 21 deaths (30.0%), two-vehicle crashes for 32 (45.7%), and crashes involving three or more vehicles for 17 (24.3%). These shares describe configuration, separate from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 19, or 27.1%. The listed route-coded counts were 13 deaths on I-5, 4 on I-90 and 2 on I-405. These figures require interstate route coding and a parseable interstate route number; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime recorded 31 deaths (44.3%), while nighttime recorded 39 (55.7%). Urban locations accounted for 62 deaths (88.6%), and rural locations accounted for 8 (11.4%). The work-zone count was 1 death. Each of these location and time figures counts deaths, rather than trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with Washington and the United States

King County's truck accident death rate was 0.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Washington's rate was 1.0, and the United States rate was 1.6. The county rate was lower than both. The corresponding death counts were 70 for King County, 389 for Washington and 27,553 nationally.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Pierce County recorded 39 deaths and a rate of 0.8; Yakima County recorded 34 deaths and a rate of 2.6. King County's rate was lower than each listed neighbor's rate. These rates use deaths and annual population estimates across the reporting period. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. For a search such as "truck accident lawyer," keep the grouping in mind: counts follow crash location, not where people lived. The 2020 through 2023 figures are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File may change when replaced by the Final File.^[9][6][7][8]

Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates for 2020 through 2024, using Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Pierce County, Washington (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Yakima County, Washington (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Car accident statistics for King County, Washington (2020-2024) (caraccidentlawyers.wiki)