Denver County, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Denver 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
4.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Denver County compares with Colorado
Denver County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Denver County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Denver County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.5 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 53% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 25% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.0% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 52% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.3% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Denver County sits below Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Denver County: I-70 deadliest road: 10 fatal truck crashes in Denver County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,428 crashes involving commercial trucks in Denver County since 2015: 592 people were injured and 55 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 7.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.7%).
Road surface: 7.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-70 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). After it: I-25 (6), SR-35 (3) and SR-88 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
95 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.9% share (Colorado: 2.8%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (12%).
They recorded 4.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Denver County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-70, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.5% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Denver County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Denver County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 10 |
| I-25 | 6 |
| SR-35 | 3 |
| SR-88 | 2 |
| 15th St | 1 |
| Arkins Ct | 1 |
| E 14th Ave | 1 |
| E 56th Ave | 1 |
| E 6th Ave | 1 |
| E 71st Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Denver County) |
|---|---|
| I 25 At Mp 212 | 30 |
| I 70 At Mp 280 | 25 |
| I 25 At Mp 209 | 18 |
| I 70 At Mp 275 | 18 |
| I 25 At Mp 211 | 17 |
| I 70 At Mp 281 | 17 |
| I 25 At Mp 210 | 16 |
| I 70 At Mp 276 | 13 |
Denver County at a glance
| Population | 729,019 |
| Land area | 153.1 sq mi |
| Density | 4,763 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $98,731 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Denver 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 | 161 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 259 | +61% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 200 | -23% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 206 | +3% | 4.8 |
In the 1990s about 161 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 206. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Denver County
ZIP codes in Denver County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Denver County
How common are truck crashes in Denver County?
Since 2015, 2,428 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Denver County (592 injured, 55 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Denver County?
NHTSA data shows I-70 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes in Denver County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Denver County?
January has the most truck crashes in Denver County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Denver County?
95 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Denver County since 2015, 3.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Denver County compare with Colorado for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Denver County has 28.5 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Denver County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.