Costa Mesa, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Costa Mesa: 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
3 of 250 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Costa Mesa compares with California
Costa Mesa against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Costa Mesa stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Costa Mesa | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.2 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 39% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.1% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.8% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Costa Mesa sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Costa Mesa: 0.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.9% in California.
Overview
Since 2015, 250 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Costa Mesa. They injured 128 people and killed 7.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 17 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in October (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.6% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 15 miles of Costa Mesa with 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-405 (12), SR-91 (9) and SR-57 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 1.2%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Route planning tips for Costa Mesa fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-5; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 27.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Costa Mesa
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 13 |
| I-405 | 12 |
| SR-91 | 9 |
| SR-57 | 7 |
| SR-22 | 4 |
| SR-55 | 4 |
| Anaheim Bl | 2 |
| Fairview Rd | 2 |
| Garden Grove Blvd | 2 |
| Harbor Blvd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Costa Mesa) |
|---|---|
| I-405 | 5 |
| Newport Bl/22Nd St | 2 |
| Rt55/319Ft S Main St | 2 |
| Rt55/250Ft N Rt405 | 2 |
| Rt55/.3M N Paularino Ave | 2 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| W Baker St/197Ft W Of Bristol St | 1 |
| W Paularino Av / Johnson Av | 1 |
Costa Mesa at a glance
| Population | 109,131 |
| Land area | 15.8 sq mi |
| Density | 6,904 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92626) | $114,249 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92626) | $1,101,591 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Costa Mesa 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 | — | — | 9.9 |
| 2000s | 16 | — | 11.4 |
| 2010s | 18 | +14% | 10.2 |
| 2020s | 21 | +17% | 10.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 16 a year in the 2000s and 21 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 14.8 a year in 2016–19 and 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Costa Mesa
How many truck crashes happen in Costa Mesa?
Since 2015, 250 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Costa Mesa (128 injured, 7 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Costa Mesa?
I-5 had 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Costa Mesa since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Costa Mesa?
Truck crashes in Costa Mesa peak in August, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Costa Mesa?
Since 2015, Costa Mesa has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Costa Mesa compared with California?
Costa Mesa records 20.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Costa Mesa?
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.