Poncha Springs, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Poncha Springs: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Poncha Springs and Chaffee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Chaffee County numbers.
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 has lower values than Colorado for injuries per crash. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Chaffee County: 11.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 5.1 in Colorado.
Overview
Since 2015, 135 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Chaffee County. They injured 33 people and killed 14.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Poncha Springs since 2015; patterns below come from Chaffee County as a whole.
82% of truck crash reports in Chaffee County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.4%).
November through March accounts for 40.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
Road surface: 26.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-285 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-291 (1) and US-50 (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 Poncha Springs fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-285, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 26.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Colorado; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Chaffee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-285 | 3 |
| SR-291 | 1 |
| US-50 | 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 |
Poncha Springs at a glance
| Population | 1,358 |
| Land area | 3.1 sq mi |
| Density | 441 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 81201) | $80,248 |
| Median home value (ZIP 81201) | $675,768 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 12 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Poncha Springs
How many truck accidents are there in Poncha Springs?
135 truck crashes have been reported in Chaffee County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 33 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Poncha Springs?
Since 2015, US-285 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Poncha Springs: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Poncha Springs?
July has the most truck crashes in Chaffee County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Poncha Springs?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chaffee County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Poncha Springs compared with Colorado?
The yearly rate is 55.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Chaffee County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Poncha Springs?
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.