Imperial, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Imperial: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Imperial 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 sits below California on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
Imperial County at a glance: 7.9 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.6 across California.
Overview
Police reported 936 crashes involving commercial trucks in Imperial County since 2015: 448 people were injured and 75 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Imperial 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.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-115 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). Next come SR-111 (3), La Brucherie Rd (2) and I-8 (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 Imperial fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-115; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Imperial County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-115 | 4 |
| SR-111 | 3 |
| La Brucherie Rd | 2 |
| I-8 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 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 |
Imperial at a glance
| Population | 22,102 |
| Land area | 6.3 sq mi |
| Density | 3,505 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 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 64 to 88. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Imperial
How many truck accidents are there in Imperial?
Since 2015, 936 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Imperial County (448 injured, 75 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Imperial?
Since 2015, SR-115 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Imperial: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Imperial?
Truck crashes in Imperial County peak in March, with 12.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Imperial?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Imperial County since 2015 (0.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Imperial compare with California?
Imperial County records 44.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Imperial?
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.