Mission Viejo, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mission Viejo: 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 239 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mission Viejo compares with California
Mission Viejo against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mission Viejo stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mission Viejo | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.3 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 89% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.0% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.0% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.1% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.8% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Mission Viejo has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Mission Viejo: 0.4 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.6 in California.
Overview
Police reported 239 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mission Viejo since 2015: 126 people were injured and 1 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 17 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (10.9% of the year) and are lowest in January (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 42.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 10.9% of truck crashes.
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Mission Viejo is I-5, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-74 (4), Camino Capistrano (1) and Lake Forest Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Route planning tips for Mission Viejo fleets
- Build extra time into March 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.
- 26.0% 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 Mission Viejo
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 9 |
| SR-74 | 4 |
| Camino Capistrano | 1 |
| Lake Forest Dr | 1 |
| Oak Canyon | 1 |
| Ortega Hwy | 1 |
| SR-241 | 1 |
| Saddleback Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mission Viejo) |
|---|---|
| Rt5/400Ft N Crown Valley Pkwy | 3 |
| I-5 S/B (San Diego Frwy) | 3 |
| I-5 S/B San Diego Frwy | 2 |
| Rt5 Sb/.5M N Crown Valley Pkwy | 2 |
| Rt5 Nb/1800Ft S Alicia Pkwy | 2 |
| Rt5 Nb/2000Ft N Oso Pkwy | 2 |
| Rt5 Nb/.3M S La Paz Rd | 2 |
| Rt5/.2Mi S Of Oso Pkwy | 2 |
Mission Viejo at a glance
| Population | 91,601 |
| Land area | 17.7 sq mi |
| Density | 5,187 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92691) | $141,045 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92691) | $988,043 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mission Viejo 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 | 14 | — | 11.4 |
| 2010s | 18 | +31% | 10.2 |
| 2020s | 20 | +14% | 10.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 2000s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 14.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Mission Viejo
How many truck crashes happen in Mission Viejo?
Mission Viejo has had 239 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 126 people and killing 1.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Mission Viejo?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Mission Viejo: 9.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Mission Viejo?
March has the most truck crashes in Mission Viejo, 10.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Mission Viejo?
Since 2015, Mission Viejo has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mission Viejo compared with California?
Mission Viejo records 23.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Mission Viejo?
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.