El Centro, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in El Centro: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in El Centro and Imperial County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Imperial County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 936 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Imperial County compares with California
Imperial County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Imperial County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Imperial County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.7 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 76% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 26% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 2.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 64% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 31.5% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Imperial County has lower values than California for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Imperial County: 7.9 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.6 in California.
Overview
Police reported 936 crashes involving commercial trucks in Imperial County since 2015: 448 people were injured and 75 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 23 truck crashes reported in El Centro since 2015, this page uses Imperial County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (12.5% of the year) and are lowest in October (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
0.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-115 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: La Brucherie Rd (2), SR-111 (2) and Cole Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 0.7% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Route planning tips for El Centro fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-115 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Imperial County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-115 | 4 |
| La Brucherie Rd | 2 |
| SR-111 | 2 |
| Cole Rd | 1 |
| I-8 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 1 |
| SR-98 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Imperial County) |
|---|---|
| I-8 | 6 |
| Rt111/Keystone Rd | 6 |
| SR-111 | 4 |
| SR-86 | 4 |
| SR-78 | 3 |
| Rt86/782Ft N Of S Marina Dr | 3 |
| Rt86/1M N Bannister Rd | 3 |
| Rt86/ South Marina Dr | 3 |
El Centro at a glance
| Population | 44,230 |
| Land area | 12.1 sq mi |
| Density | 3,650 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Imperial 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 | — | — | 6.5 |
| 2000s | 64 | — | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 77 | +21% | 4.7 |
| 2020s | 88 | +14% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 64 a year in the 2000s and 88 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about El Centro
How common are truck crashes in El Centro?
Imperial County has had 936 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 448 people and killing 75.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in El Centro?
NHTSA data shows SR-115 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of El Centro since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in El Centro?
March has the most truck crashes in Imperial County, 12.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in El Centro?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Imperial County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in El Centro compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Imperial County has 44.7 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in El Centro?
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.