Butte County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Butte County: 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
12 of 626 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Butte County compares with California
Butte County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Butte County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Butte County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.8 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.7% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Compared with California, Butte County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Butte County at a glance: 7.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.6 across California.
Overview
Since 2015, 626 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Butte County. They injured 301 people and killed 47.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.7% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Butte County is SR-99, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-70 (7), Oro Quincy Hwy (2) and CR-OPHIR Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 12 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Route planning tips for Butte County fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-99; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 30.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Butte County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Butte County) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 14 |
| SR-70 | 7 |
| Oro Quincy Hwy | 2 |
| CR-OPHIR Rd | 1 |
| Clark Rd | 1 |
| Concow Rd | 1 |
| Esplanade | 1 |
| SR-191 | 1 |
| SR-32 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Butte County) |
|---|---|
| Rt99/1595Ft S South Ave | 5 |
| SR-99 | 5 |
| SR-70 | 4 |
| Rt99/1592Ft S South Av | 3 |
| Aguas Frias Rd/Nelson Rd | 2 |
| Clark Rd/347Ft S Easy St | 2 |
| Cohasset Rd | 2 |
| Feather River Bl/Georgia Pacific Wy | 2 |
Butte County at a glance
| Population | 208,334 |
| Land area | 1,636.5 sq mi |
| Density | 127 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $69,254 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Butte 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 | — | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 31 | — | 3.4 |
| 2010s | 46 | +47% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 54 | +18% | 3.0 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 31 to 54. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Butte County
ZIP codes in Butte County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Butte County
How many truck accidents are there in Butte County?
Since 2015, 626 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Butte County (301 injured, 47 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Butte County?
Since 2015, SR-99 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Butte County: 14.
When do most truck crashes happen in Butte County?
The worst month is September: 10.9% of truck crashes in Butte County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Butte County?
12 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Butte County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Butte County compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Butte County has 26.4 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Butte County?
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.