La Mesa, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in La Mesa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in La Mesa and San Diego County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Diego County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Diego County compares with California
San Diego County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Diego County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Diego County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with California, San Diego County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for San Diego County: 1 in 36 crashes involve a garbage truck (181 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
San Diego County has recorded 6,646 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,402 people injured and 235 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
With 121 truck crashes reported in La Mesa since 2015, this page uses San Diego County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (8.8% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of La Mesa since 2015 were spread across roads: I-5 (5), SR-163 (5), I-15 (4), I-805 (4) and I-8 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 181 crashes, 2.7% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for La Mesa fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Diego County.
- Morning starts matter: 26.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- 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 San Diego County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 5 |
| SR-163 | 5 |
| I-15 | 4 |
| I-805 | 4 |
| I-8 | 3 |
| SR-15 | 3 |
| SR-52 | 3 |
| SR-54 | 2 |
| 1000 Sixth Ave | 1 |
| 5th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Diego County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 33 |
| I-805 | 29 |
| I-15 | 28 |
| SR-15 | 10 |
| I-8 | 9 |
| SR-78 | 7 |
| Sr-78 E/B | 7 |
| SR-52 | 5 |
La Mesa at a glance
| Population | 60,767 |
| Land area | 9.1 sq mi |
| Density | 6,684 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Diego 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 | 2 | — | 14.4 |
| 2000s | 411 | +20465% | 16.2 |
| 2010s | 514 | +25% | 12.4 |
| 2020s | 570 | +11% | 19.8 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 570. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 13.5 a year in 2016–19, 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about La Mesa
How common are truck crashes in La Mesa?
San Diego County has had 6,646 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,402 people and killing 235.
Which month has the most truck crashes in La Mesa?
The worst month is March: 8.8% of truck crashes in San Diego County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in La Mesa?
181 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in La Mesa compare with California?
San Diego County records 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in La 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.