Smith River, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Smith River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Smith River and Del Norte County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Del Norte County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 130 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Del Norte County compares with California
Del Norte County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Del Norte County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Del Norte County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 49% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 3.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.2% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 2.9× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 31.7% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with California, Del Norte County is lower on garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Del Norte County: 3.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Del Norte County has recorded 130 truck crashes since 2015, with 63 people injured and 5 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 33 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Smith River since 2015, this page uses Del Norte County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (13.8% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.1%).
November through March accounts for 45.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Smith River since 2015: US-101 (3). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.8% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Route planning tips for Smith River fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 3.3% of truck crashes here, more than California; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Del Norte County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Del Norte County) |
|---|---|
| US-199 | 8 |
| US-101 | 3 |
| Lake Earl Drive | 2 |
| Rt101/1.8M S Wilson Creek Rd | 2 |
| Rt199/281Ft N Hardscrabble Creek | 2 |
| Us101/1270Ft S Hamilton Rd | 2 |
| Burtschell St/245Ft S Rt101 | 1 |
| Del Norte St/Childs Av | 1 |
Smith River at a glance
| Land area | 4.4 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 95567) | $102,734 |
| Median home value (ZIP 95567) | $377,269 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Del Norte 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 | — | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 12 | — | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 10 | -17% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 11 | +14% | 0.4 |
In the 2000s about 12 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Smith River
How common are truck crashes in Smith River?
Since 2015, 130 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Del Norte County (63 injured, 5 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Smith River?
The worst month is May: 13.8% of truck crashes in Del Norte County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Smith River?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Del Norte County since 2015 (0.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Smith River compare with California?
The yearly rate is 40.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Del Norte County, vs 33.2 for California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Smith River?
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.