Car accident statistics for Clark County, Washington (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Clark County by year

Annual car accident deaths numbered 35 in 2020, 33 in 2021, 35 in 2022, 32 in 2023 and 34 in 2024. The highest count was shared by 2020 and 2022, with 35 deaths each; the lowest was 32 in 2023. The 2024 count was 1 death lower than the 2020 count. Deaths fell in 2021, rose in 2022, fell in 2023 and rose in 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 87.5%, 91.7%, 92.1%, 86.5% and 82.9%. That share was highest in 2022 and lowest in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 40 in 2020, 36 in 2021, 38 in 2022, 37 in 2023 and 41 in 2024.^{[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 Clark County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 102 deaths, or 60.4% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 25 deaths, or 14.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 42 deaths, or 24.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The categories classify people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the count to passenger vehicle occupants. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than residency.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 35 deaths (20.7%), head-on for 20 (11.8%), rear-end for 16 (9.5%) and sideswipe for 4 (2.4%). Among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport, angle collisions had the largest death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 94 car accident deaths (55.6%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 89 car accident deaths, or 52.7%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 80 deaths, or 47.3%. The nighttime death count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 119 deaths (70.4%) as urban and 49 (29.0%) as rural. Unknown land use accounted for 1 death (0.6%). Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 12 car accident deaths, or 7.1%. These are deaths in crashes involving a large truck, rather than a count of truck occupants.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Washington and the United States

Clark County's car accident death rate was 6.5 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Washington's rate was 7.9, and the national rate was 10.5. The listed neighboring county, Multnomah County, Oregon, had a rate of 8.2. Clark County's rate was lower than each of these comparison rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Clark County's separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 526,241 is not the denominator used for this calculation. The rate describes deaths at crash locations relative to population, rather than a count of county residents who died.^{[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.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Clark County, of any vehicle type. Their shares use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Speeding-related recorded 71 deaths (37.0%); roadway departure, 93 (48.4%); at an intersection, 54 (28.1%); pedestrian involved, 42 (21.9%); and motorcycle involved, 43 (22.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run recorded 14 deaths (7.3%), driver distraction reported recorded 33 (17.2%), and in a work zone recorded 5 (2.6%). A crash can carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County assignment follows crash location, not residency.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000 for average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Multnomah County, Oregon (2020-2024)
• Washington car accident statistics (2020-2024)