Poplar-Cotton Center, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Poplar-Cotton Center: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Poplar-Cotton Center and Tulare County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Tulare County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Tulare County compares with California
Tulare County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tulare County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tulare County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 51.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 88% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 17% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.4% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Tulare County sits below California on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Poplar-Cotton Center at a glance: 1.9× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Poplar-Cotton Center (1.5 → 2.8).
Overview
Tulare County has recorded 2,862 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,357 people injured and 142 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Poplar-Cotton Center since 2015, this page uses Tulare County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.6% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.4% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.1% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
SR-190 leads within 10 miles of Poplar-Cotton Center with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-65 (3), Road 152 (2) and Avenue 120 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 47 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.3, vs 5.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Poplar-Cotton Center fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-190 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.2% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Tulare County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-190 | 7 |
| SR-65 | 3 |
| Road 152 | 2 |
| Avenue 120 | 1 |
| Avenue 204 | 1 |
| CR-192 | 1 |
| CR-AVE 208 | 1 |
| Plano St | 1 |
| Road 112 | 1 |
| Road 180 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tulare County) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 25 |
| Sr-99 N/B | 20 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 12 |
| SR-65 | 7 |
| Road 152 | 6 |
| SR-63 | 6 |
| SR-198 | 5 |
| SR-137 | 4 |
Poplar-Cotton Center at a glance
| Land area | 2.4 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 93258) | $51,319 |
| Median home value (ZIP 93258) | $204,217 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tulare 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 | 4 | — | 11.0 |
| 2000s | 140 | +3402% | 11.1 |
| 2010s | 198 | +42% | 8.8 |
| 2020s | 262 | +32% | 10.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 262 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 8.0 a year in 2016–19, 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Poplar-Cotton Center
How many truck accidents are there in Poplar-Cotton Center?
Tulare County has had 2,862 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,357 people and killing 142.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Poplar-Cotton Center?
SR-190 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Poplar-Cotton Center since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Poplar-Cotton Center?
The worst month is October: 9.6% of truck crashes in Tulare County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Poplar-Cotton Center?
47 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Tulare County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Poplar-Cotton Center compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Tulare County has 51.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Poplar-Cotton Center?
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.