French Gulch, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in French Gulch: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in French Gulch and Shasta County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Shasta County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 942 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Shasta County compares with California
Shasta County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shasta County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shasta County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 8.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 3.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Shasta County sits below California on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Shasta County: 7.4% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Since 2015, 942 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shasta County. They injured 366 people and killed 46.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in French Gulch since 2015, this page uses Shasta County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 6.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.6%).
Road surface: 7.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of French Gulch is SR-299, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015.
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 French Gulch fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use SR-299, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- With 7.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above California), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Shasta County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-299 | 5 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shasta County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 12 |
| SR-299 | 5 |
| Rt5/.6M S Delta Rd | 5 |
| SR-44 | 3 |
| Rt89/2.5M S Cassel Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.6M S Flume Creek Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.6M N Sims Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.5M S Flume Creek Rd | 3 |
French Gulch at a glance
| Land area | 12.3 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shasta 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 | 1 | — | 4.6 |
| 2000s | 60 | +5900% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 76 | +27% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 79 | +4% | 4.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1 to 79. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about French Gulch
How many truck accidents are there in French Gulch?
942 truck crashes have been reported in Shasta County since 2015, with 46 deaths and 366 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in French Gulch?
SR-299 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of French Gulch since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in French Gulch?
Truck crashes in Shasta County peak in October, with 10.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in French Gulch?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shasta County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How does French Gulch compare with California for truck crashes?
Shasta County records 45.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in French Gulch?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.