Chaffee County, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chaffee County: 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
5 of 135 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chaffee County compares with Colorado
Chaffee County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chaffee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chaffee County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.1 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 11.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.23 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.2% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.0% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Chaffee County sits below Colorado on injuries per crash. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Chaffee County: 11.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 5.1 across Colorado.
Overview
Chaffee County has recorded 135 truck crashes since 2015, with 33 people injured and 14 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 32 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (11.9% of the year) and are lowest in November (4.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.5% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.2% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-50 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by US-285 (2), SR-291 (1) and US-24 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 2.8% in Colorado.
Route planning tips for Chaffee County fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chaffee County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-50; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 26.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Colorado), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Chaffee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Chaffee County) |
|---|---|
| US-50 | 3 |
| US-285 | 2 |
| SR-291 | 1 |
| US-24 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chaffee County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 50 At Mp 209 | 6 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 199 | 5 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 202 | 3 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 137 | 3 |
| Cr 187 At Cr 307 | 2 |
| Hwy 24 2,112 Feet E Of Mp 217 | 2 |
| Hwy 24 At Mp 221 | 2 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 119 | 2 |
Chaffee County at a glance
| Population | 20,780 |
| Land area | 1,013.4 sq mi |
| Density | 21 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $85,656 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chaffee 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 | 6 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +36% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 10 | +35% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 12 | +12% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Chaffee County
ZIP codes in Chaffee County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Chaffee County
How common are truck crashes in Chaffee County?
135 truck crashes have been reported in Chaffee County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 33 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Chaffee County?
NHTSA data shows US-50 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Chaffee County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chaffee County?
July has the most truck crashes in Chaffee County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chaffee County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Chaffee County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Chaffee County compare with Colorado?
The yearly rate is 55.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Chaffee County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chaffee County?
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.