West Memphis, AR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Memphis: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 859 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How West Memphis compares with Arkansas
West Memphis against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where West Memphis stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | West Memphis | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 311.7 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 3.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 39% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 55% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.3% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.5% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.6% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
West Memphis has lower values than Arkansas for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for West Memphis: I-55 deadliest road: 19 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of West Memphis since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 859 crashes involving commercial trucks in West Memphis since 2015: 338 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 12.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 6.2%.
November through March accounts for 42.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Arkansas.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (7.3%).
Road surface: 1.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arkansas: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of West Memphis is I-55, with 19 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (10), I-240 (2) and US-51 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
9 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.0% share (Arkansas: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for West Memphis fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in West Memphis.
- Look at alternatives to I-55 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in West Memphis
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 19 |
| I-40 | 10 |
| I-240 | 2 |
| US-51 | 2 |
| Channel Ave | 1 |
| Cs-Rainer Rd | 1 |
| Cs-Southland Drive | 1 |
| I-00040 | 1 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
| US-61 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (West Memphis) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 125 |
| I-40 | 107 |
| I-40E | 100 |
| I-55N | 88 |
| I-40W | 75 |
| Sh38 | 34 |
| US-70 | 34 |
| Sh118 | 24 |
West Memphis at a glance
| Population | 23,538 |
| Land area | 29.8 sq mi |
| Density | 789 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in West Memphis since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 69 | +82% | 3.8 |
| 2010s | 67 | -3% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 76 | +15% | 3.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 38 a year in the 1990s and 76 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Memphis
How common are truck crashes in West Memphis?
859 truck crashes have been reported in West Memphis since 2015, with 18 deaths and 338 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in West Memphis?
NHTSA data shows I-55 with 19 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Memphis since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in West Memphis?
May has the most truck crashes in West Memphis, 12.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in West Memphis?
Since 2015, West Memphis has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in West Memphis compared with Arkansas?
Per 100,000 residents, West Memphis has 311.7 truck crashes a year; Arkansas has 92.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in West Memphis?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.