The 5 Most Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Washington

I recently saw a social media post of a young Wenatchee Valley resident who lost their life in a single-car accident. Authorities believe that the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The loss of this area resident has been devastating to both his family and friends. 

Driving a vehicle comes with certain risks to our lives and the lives of those we share the road with. Even if an accident doesn’t result in loss of life, the damage or injury can change your or your family's life forever. 

Just last year, in 2023, 3,598 accidents in Washington resulted in death or serious injuries. 797 people died in car accidents in Washington.  One-third of all accidents took place in an intersection. 

The Washington State Department of Transportation’s data on accident locations shows five stretches of road and, in one case, a high-risk intersection. 

Here are the 5 Most Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Washington

Washington State Route 99

Known locally as the Pacific Highway or Washington State Route 99. This road connects Fife with Everett. It is among the most dangerous roadways in the state. If you live in Fife and want to get to Everett, you're not taking this route. It’s more of a “surface road” or a local roadway.

Washington State Route 99 has a dangerous combination of fast-moving and slow-moving traffic - which is why it has seen a high volume of accidents in recent decades. 

U.S. Highway 2

Highway 2 is very remote in places (emergency response could be hours away from your location - if you have a cell signal) and can be dangerous in slick winter weather. 

Interstate 5

I-5 is one of the busiest highways in the U.S. Even though it is well-designed, it still has many serious accidents simply due to the sheer number of vehicles on the road. I-5 is listed as one of the most deadly highways in America. 

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State Route 522

State Route 522, a 10.5-mile long roadway between Woodinville and Monroe, has had a bad reputation for bad accidents. State Route 522 was named one of the most dangerous highways in America by Readers Digest in 1995 and Forbes in 2007.

The 16th Ave & Nob Hill Boulevard Intersection (Yakima)

Intersections are tricky and require alertness to distracted drivers. In 2018, The Yakima Herald reported that an accident occurs in this intersection once every 21 days.

Why? 

It has one of the busiest intersections in the community. Plus, Nob Hill Boulevard is angled to South 1st Street - creating visibility problems for some drivers.