Spokane has many roads and highways, but it’s amazing how much traffic ends up on major roads each day. Each day, busy routes like I-90, Division Street, Sprague Avenue, and Highway 2, see a rush of traffic, and often, a string of collisions. These high-speed impacts can carry deadly force. Victims involved can suffer life-threatening injuries and families can suddenly lose loved ones to a tragic accident.
The Law Offices of Crary & Domanico, P.S., commissioned a study in 2024 to examine the most recent Spokane fatal traffic accident statistics. Drivers should be reminded of the toll their mistakes have on local victims, families, and the local community. It’s hoped that a revealing look at a troubling rise in tragic collisions will encourage local drivers to take more care around other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
How Many Fatal Car Accident Fatalities Are There in Spokane?
Spokane has seen an average of 18 lives taken in traffic accidents annually over the past 5 years. That’s according to statistics collected by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WA TSC) on their Fatalities Dashboard. These victims can be drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The sad totals have varied but a sharp increase from pre-pandemic (2020) levels is apparent. Our city saw at least 20 people die in traffic accidents in 2023. That was double the total from 2019. 2018 brought only 7 fatalities in collision accidents. We await figures from 2024 to be tallied up to see if the shocking and unwanted upward trend continues.
- The TSC reports that over the past 10 years (2014-2023) 56 fatal accidents were blamed on impaired drivers. Drivers who were either under the influence of alcohol or drugs were responsible for 41% of the fatalities in Spokane over that span.
- Speeding drivers were blamed for 29 traffic fatalities over the past 10 years. That worked out to around 21% of all fatalities
When factoring in the large and small towns that make up the rest of Spokane County, the same upward trend since the pandemic was easy to see. Places like Spokane Valley, Airway Heights, Cheney, and Liberty Lake also saw way too many heartbreaking traffic incidents.
Spokane County recorded 60 deaths in 2023. That was up from 41 deaths in 2022. 60 deaths towers over the 29 fatalities recorded before the pandemic in 2019.
- The TSC reports that in 2023 (2014-2023) at least 29 fatal accidents in Spokane County were blamed on impaired drivers. Drivers who were either under the influence of alcohol or drugs were responsible for around half of the fatalities in the county over that span.
- Speeding drivers were blamed for 16 traffic fatalities in Spokane County in 2023. That worked out to around 27% of all fatalities for the year.
Overall, Washington documented at least 733 fatalities along our state’s roads in 2023. That was up slightly from 2022’s final total of 701 lost lives. Over the past five years (2019-2023), Washington has averaged around 618 tragic deaths each year.
Where Do Most Fatal Accidents Occur in Spokane
The TSC finds that over the past 10 years (2014-2023) 69% of Spokane County accidents have occurred in Urban areas. Around 30% of the recorded accidents happened in rural settings.
By the Traffic Safety Commission’s data…
- 153 deadly accidents in Spokane County occurred on City Streets over the past 10 years (2014-2023). That represents almost 40% of the fatal accidents across the county over that span.
- 55 fatal accidents occurred on State Routes like SR 27. That made up around 17% of deadly accidents over that period.
- 67 fatal collisions were recorded on U.S. Highways such as U.S. Route 2. They comprised around 14% of all fatal accidents.
- Interstate 90 through Spokane County saw at least 27 deadly accidents over the 10-year span, making up around 7% of the total fatal accidents in the county.
- County Roads were the scene of 88 deadly crashes, about 23% of the total for Spokane County.
What Age Groups Are at Most Risk of Death in Spokane Accidents?
Middle-aged men were at most risk of life-threatening accidents in Spokane over the past 10 years (2014-2023). The WA TSC found that around 70% of the victims in fatal accidents were male. Around 28% were female. The genders of a few victims were not noted over that period.
There were 20 traffic accident victims ages 41-45 in that period. That was the most deaths of any age group involved in our city’s many accidents. The age groups 25 to 30 and 56 to 60 also made up many of the victims.
Contact a Spokane Car Accident Lawyer Serving Local Families
Our hope is that a look at the devastating numbers behind fatal car accidents in our area will remind drivers of the duty they have to pay attention to what’s in front of them at all times.
Spokane drivers can get careless and reckless and place others at risk of devastating collisions. Families can end up losing loved ones in an instant. Those left behind can end up facing emotional and financial hardships. At CCD Law we offer all family members a free case consultation with a real lawyer after a tragedy. A Spokane Fatal Car Accident Lawyer can help you determine the best way to seek justice and provide for the family in the future. Contact us today for a confidential case review that comes with no obligation.
