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Skagit County

Residents 132,736Deaths 2024 17Deaths 2015–2024 150Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 150 people killed in 144 fatal crashes in Skagit County, Washington, between 2015 and 2024, 17 of them in 2024.

With 132,736 residents, that is 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 43% higher than the Washington rate of 8.2 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 16% from 129 in 2005–2014 to 150 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 19.3% against 15.7% for Washington.

38% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (21%).

17deaths in 202417 fatal crashes
81deaths, 2020–2024150 over ten years
11.7per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 12.8
+43%vs Washington ratestate 8.2 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01734197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 23 deaths1976: 22 deaths1977: 16 deaths1978: 16 deaths1979: 34 deaths1980: 23 deaths1981: 22 deaths1982: 25 deaths1983: 17 deaths1984: 19 deaths1985: 14 deaths1986: 19 deaths1987: 21 deaths1988: 27 deaths1989: 16 deaths1990: 24 deaths1991: 16 deaths1992: 11 deaths1993: 16 deaths1994: 19 deaths1995: 23 deaths1996: 11 deaths1997: 21 deaths1998: 16 deaths1999: 19 deaths2000: 13 deaths2001: 26 deaths2002: 13 deaths2003: 21 deaths2004: 24 deaths2005: 22 deaths2006: 21 deaths2007: 10 deaths2008: 20 deaths2009: 14 deaths2010: 10 deaths2011: 4 deaths2012: 7 deaths2013: 10 deaths2014: 11 deaths2015: 14 deaths2016: 8 deaths2017: 11 deaths2018: 20 deaths2019: 16 deaths2020: 18 deaths2021: 13 deaths2022: 16 deaths2023: 17 deaths2024: 17 deaths
People killed in crashes in Skagit County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 17 deaths.

Ten-year total up 16% (129 in 2005–2014, 150 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Washington and the nation

MeasureSkagitWashingtonUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202411.78.211.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202412.89.211.5
Deaths, 2015–20241506,257389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20241445,793358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.01.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+16%+22%+7%
Crashes on rural roads63%42%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 132,736 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking29.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver26.4%
Pedestriansshare of people killed16.7%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed19.3%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used34.9%
In darknesscrashes after dark49%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads63.4%

tick marks the Washington share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Skagit County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 144 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday21%
Friday15%
Tuesday15%
Monday13%
Thursday13%
Sunday12%
Wednesday12%

Light condition

Daylight46%
Dark, not lighted35%
Dark, lighted13%
Dawn3%
Dusk2%
Dark, lighting unknown1%

Road type

Minor arterial27%
Major collector25%
Other principal arterial16%
Interstate13%
Local9%
Other freeways and expressways5%
Minor collector5%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Washington share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear58%
Cloudy22%
Rain13%
Fog, smog or smoke5%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Skagit

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 20State highway38848923%27%
2Interstate 5Interstate1839042531%36%
3State Route 9State highway10374224%30%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20241717412.8WA 2024
20231717512.8WA 2023
20221616512.1WA 2022
2021131349.8WA 2021
20201718613.6WA 2020
20191616412.1WA 2019
20181620715.1WA 2018
2017111138.3WA 2017
2016881–26.0WA 2016
20151314410.5WA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Skagit County, Washington?

17 people died in 17 fatal crashes in 2024; 81 over 2020–2024 and 150 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Skagit compare with Washington?

11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 8.2 for Washington and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Skagit involved alcohol?

29.9% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 31.1% in Washington. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 19.3%.

Which roads in Skagit see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 20 (38 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 5 (18 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 9 (10 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Skagit?

Most often between noon to 6pm (38% of crashes) and on Saturdays (21%); 49.0% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.