Helena-West Helena, AR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena-West Helena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena-West Helena and Phillips County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Phillips County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 140 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Phillips County compares with Arkansas
Phillips County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Phillips County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Phillips County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 84.3 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 9% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.7% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.1% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 47% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.4% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Compared with Arkansas, Phillips County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Arkansas on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Phillips County: 9.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.9 in Arkansas.
Overview
Phillips County has recorded 140 truck crashes since 2015, with 90 people injured and 13 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 30 days.
Only 41 truck crashes were reported in Helena-West Helena since 2015; patterns below come from Phillips County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (16.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (2.9%).
November through March accounts for 38.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Arkansas.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 10.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.7% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Helena-West Helena is US-49, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-242 (1), SR-318 (1) and US-49N (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 1.6% in Arkansas.
Route planning tips for Helena-West Helena fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-49; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 26.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Arkansas; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 3.7% of truck crashes here, more than Arkansas; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Phillips County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-49 | 3 |
| SR-242 | 1 |
| SR-318 | 1 |
| US-49N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Phillips County) |
|---|---|
| US-49 | 35 |
| Sh44 | 13 |
| Sh1 | 12 |
| I-49 | 8 |
| Sh20 | 6 |
| Sh85 | 5 |
| Sh242 | 4 |
| Sh318E | 3 |
Helena-West Helena at a glance
| Population | 8,462 |
| Land area | 13.1 sq mi |
| Density | 645 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 72390) | $38,294 |
| Median home value (ZIP 72390) | $68,926 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Phillips 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 | 9 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 7 | -17% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 10 | +38% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 13 | +36% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 9 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 13. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena-West Helena
How many truck crashes happen in Helena-West Helena?
140 truck crashes have been reported in Phillips County since 2015, with 13 deaths and 90 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Helena-West Helena?
NHTSA data shows US-49 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena-West Helena since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Helena-West Helena?
Truck crashes in Phillips County peak in October, with 16.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Helena-West Helena?
Since 2015, Phillips County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Helena-West Helena compare with Arkansas?
The yearly rate is 84.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Phillips County, vs 92.4 for Arkansas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Helena-West Helena?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.