Santee, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Santee: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Santee 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 |
San Diego County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in San Diego County: 1 in 36 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.8%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
Since 2015, 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in San Diego County. They injured 3,402 people and killed 235.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
Only 46 truck crashes were reported in Santee since 2015; patterns below come from San Diego County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 8.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
0.3% 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 Santee is I-15, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-8 (4), SR-52 (3) and SR-67 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
181 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Santee fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Diego County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-15; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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-15 | 7 |
| I-8 | 4 |
| SR-52 | 3 |
| SR-67 | 3 |
| Alvarado Canyon Rd | 1 |
| Dehesa Rd | 1 |
| Greenfield Dr | 1 |
| Lightwave Av | 1 |
| Los Coches Rd | 1 |
| North Woodside 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 |
Santee at a glance
| Population | 59,104 |
| Land area | 16.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3,574 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92071) | $113,618 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92071) | $723,285 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 570 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 13.5 a year in 2016–19 and 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Santee
How many truck crashes happen in Santee?
6,646 truck crashes have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, with 235 deaths and 3,402 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Santee?
Since 2015, I-15 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Santee: 7.
When do most truck crashes happen in Santee?
Truck crashes in San Diego County peak in March, with 8.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Santee?
Garbage trucks were involved in 181 reported crashes in San Diego County since 2015 (2.7% of truck crashes).
How does Santee compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, San Diego County has 17.6 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Santee?
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.