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

Car accident deaths in Yakima County by year

The annual car accident death count rose from 40 in 2020 to 52 in 2021, the highest count during the period. It then fell to 48 in 2022, 42 in 2023 and 33 in 2024. The lowest count was in 2024, with 7 fewer deaths than in 2020.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 42 in 2020, 58 in 2021, 54 in 2022, 47 in 2023 and 35 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 95.2% in 2020, 89.7% in 2021, 88.9% in 2022, 89.4% in 2023 and 94.3% in 2024. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2022.^{[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 Yakima County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 175 deaths, or 81.4% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 12 deaths, or 5.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 28 deaths, or 13.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle, even when the person was assigned to a different person category. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep the grouping in mind: these figures describe crash locations, not the home counties of those who died.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 57 car accident deaths, or 26.5%. Head-on collisions accounted for 39 deaths, or 18.1%; rear-end collisions for 6, or 2.8%; and sideswipe collisions for 6, or 2.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The largest row, Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, recorded 107 deaths, or 49.8%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This row can include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean another vehicle had to be physically moving: a motor vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 110 car accident deaths, or 51.2%, from 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 105 deaths, or 48.8%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 68 deaths in urban settings, or 31.6%, and 141 in rural settings, or 65.6%. Another 6 deaths, or 2.8%, had an unknown classification. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 27, representing 12.6% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Washington and the United States

Yakima County's car accident death rate was 16.7 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 county rate was higher than both. The listed neighboring counties had rates of 5.6 in King County, 9.1 in Pierce County and 22.0 in Grant County.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Yakima County's rate was higher than King County's and Pierce County's, but lower than Grant County's. Among the listed neighboring counties, Grant County had the highest rate and King County the lowest. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. 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.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Yakima County, of any vehicle type, with shares measured against all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 68 deaths (28.8%); roadway departure, 124 (52.5%); and crashes at an intersection, 59 (25.0%). Pedestrian-involved crashes accounted for 29 deaths (12.3%), and motorcycle-involved crashes for 13 (5.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run crashes accounted for 15 deaths (6.4%); crashes with driver distraction reported, 33 (14.0%); and crashes in a work zone, 1 (0.4%). These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. Rows overlap when a crash carries several characteristics, so their shares do not add to 100%.^{[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 a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County assignment follows crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

Records for 2020 through 2023 are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision when NHTSA replaces it with the Final File. Rate calculations divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for King County, Washington (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Pierce County, Washington (2020-2024)
• Washington car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Yakima County, Washington (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)