Fruita, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Fruita: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Fruita and Mesa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mesa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 390 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mesa County compares with Colorado
Mesa County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mesa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mesa County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 19.7 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Mesa County has lower values than Colorado for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Colorado on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
Fruita at a glance: I-70 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Fruita since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 390 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mesa County. They injured 122 people and killed 18.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in Fruita since 2015; patterns below come from Mesa County as a whole.
58% of truck crash reports in Mesa County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 43.5% for Colorado.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.1% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Fruita is I-70, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by 23 Rd (1), CR-S Broadway (1) and River Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (Colorado: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Fruita fleets
- Build extra time into August 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.
- 28.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Colorado; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Mesa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 2 |
| 23 Rd | 1 |
| CR-S Broadway | 1 |
| River Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mesa County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 44 | 5 |
| I-70 | 4 |
| I70 At Mp 50 | 4 |
| River Rd At Railroad Blvd | 3 |
| Rd At Patterson Rd | 3 |
| Rd At North Ave | 3 |
| Railroad Blvd At River Rd | 3 |
| I70 At Mp 32 | 3 |
Fruita at a glance
| Population | 13,912 |
| Land area | 8.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,737 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 81521) | $88,458 |
| Median home value (ZIP 81521) | $421,958 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mesa 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 | 29 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 42 | +48% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 30 | -29% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 36 | +22% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 29 a year in the 1990s and 36 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Fruita
How common are truck crashes in Fruita?
Mesa County has had 390 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 122 people and killing 18.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Fruita?
I-70 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Fruita since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Fruita?
August has the most truck crashes in Mesa County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Fruita?
Since 2015, Mesa County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Fruita compare with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Mesa County has 19.7 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Fruita?
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.