Elkins, AR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elkins: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elkins and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Arkansas
Washington County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.7 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 64% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.2% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.3% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.8% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Washington County sits below Arkansas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Washington County: 5.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Arkansas: 3.3%).
Overview
Police reported 1,542 crashes involving commercial trucks in Washington County since 2015: 576 people were injured and 22 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
Elkins had 10 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Washington County numbers.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 10.6% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.5% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Arkansas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.2% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
SR-45 leads within 10 miles of Elkins with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-ELKRDG (1), CR-MADISON5340RD (1) and I-49 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 28 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 1.6% in Arkansas.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (21% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 1.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Elkins fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-45; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Washington County.
- Morning starts matter: 25.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Arkansas.
- 5.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Arkansas; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-45 | 2 |
| CR-ELKRDG | 1 |
| CR-MADISON5340RD | 1 |
| I-49 | 1 |
| SR-74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 399 |
| US-412 | 143 |
| Cst(West Sunset Avenue) | 72 |
| I-49S | 44 |
| US-71 | 41 |
| Cst(East Robinson Avenue) | 38 |
| I-49N | 37 |
| US-62 | 30 |
Elkins at a glance
| Population | 4,025 |
| Land area | 3.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,039 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 72701) | $55,506 |
| Median home value (ZIP 72701) | $354,795 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 58 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 79 | +36% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 109 | +38% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 133 | +22% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 58 to 133. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elkins
How common are truck crashes in Elkins?
Since 2015, 1,542 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (576 injured, 22 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Elkins?
SR-45 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Elkins since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Elkins?
February has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 10.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elkins?
28 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Elkins compared with Arkansas?
The yearly rate is 49.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 92.4 for Arkansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Elkins?
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.