Jefferson County, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Jefferson 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Colorado
Jefferson County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.9 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.8 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.4% | 14.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Jefferson County sits below Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Jefferson County: I-70 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Jefferson County.
Overview
Police reported 1,011 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jefferson County since 2015: 322 people were injured and 56 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.4%).
November through March accounts for 42.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 14.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Jefferson County is I-70, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-121 (4), SR-93 (3) and US-285 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
36 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Colorado: 2.8%).
Their busiest month is July, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 5.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Jefferson County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check whether your routes use I-70, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- 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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 5 |
| SR-121 | 4 |
| SR-93 | 3 |
| US-285 | 3 |
| SR-95 | 2 |
| US-40 | 2 |
| CR-126 | 1 |
| CR-93 | 1 |
| CR-MCINTYRE St | 1 |
| S Kipling Pkwy | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 259 | 11 |
| C470 At Mp 1 | 7 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 240 | 7 |
| I 70 At Mp 262 | 7 |
| I70 At Mp 262 | 6 |
| I 70 At Ward Rd | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 257 | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 253 | 6 |
Jefferson County at a glance
| Population | 578,533 |
| Land area | 764.4 sq mi |
| Density | 757 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $110,237 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 79 | — | 2.7 |
| 2000s | 114 | +44% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 98 | -14% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 76 | -22% | 3.6 |
In the 1990s about 79 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 76. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Jefferson County
ZIP codes in Jefferson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Jefferson County
How many truck crashes happen in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has had 1,011 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 322 people and killing 56.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Jefferson County?
Since 2015, I-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Jefferson County: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Jefferson County?
January has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Jefferson County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 36 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (3.6% of truck crashes).
How does Jefferson County compare with Colorado for truck crashes?
Jefferson County records 14.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 32.6 across Colorado.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Jefferson 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.