Salida, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salida: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salida 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. It runs above Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Chaffee County: 11.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Colorado: 5.1).
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.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Salida 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%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.5% of truck crashes, vs 43.5% for Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.2% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Salida is US-285, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. 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 Salida fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-285 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 26.2% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 |
Salida at a glance
| Population | 6,007 |
| Land area | 2.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,135 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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salida
How many truck accidents are there in Salida?
Since 2015, 135 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Chaffee County (33 injured, 14 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Salida?
Since 2015, US-285 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Salida: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Salida?
July has the most truck crashes in Chaffee County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salida?
Since 2015, Chaffee County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Salida compare with Colorado for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 55.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Chaffee County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Salida?
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.