Desha, AR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Desha: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Desha and Independence County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Independence County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 346 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Independence County compares with Arkansas
Independence County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Independence County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Independence County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 78.5 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 73% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.0% | 22.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.4% | 22.4% | 24.8% | same |
Independence County has lower values than Arkansas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Arkansas on deaths per 100 crashes.
What stands out in Desha: US-167 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Desha.
Overview
Since 2015, 346 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Independence County. They injured 175 people and killed 17.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Desha since 2015, this page uses Independence County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in November (6.6%).
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Arkansas.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
0.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-167 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by CR-REDCUTRD (1) and SR-25 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 1.6% across Arkansas.
Route planning tips for Desha fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-167, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Independence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-167 | 5 |
| CR-REDCUTRD | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Independence County) |
|---|---|
| US-167 | 63 |
| Cst(Batesville Boulevard) | 35 |
| Sh69 | 25 |
| Sh25 | 25 |
| Cst(Harrison Street) | 20 |
| Cst(North St Louis Street) | 13 |
| Cst(Heber Springs Road) | 11 |
| Cst(White Drive) | 10 |
Desha at a glance
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Independence County 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 | 14 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 22 | +56% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 29 | +32% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 29 | -0% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 29. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Desha
How common are truck crashes in Desha?
Since 2015, 346 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Independence County (175 injured, 17 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Desha?
NHTSA data shows US-167 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Desha since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Desha?
June has the most truck crashes in Independence County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Desha?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Independence County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How does Desha compare with Arkansas for truck crashes?
Independence County records 78.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 92.4 across Arkansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Desha?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.