Orchard Mesa, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orchard Mesa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Orchard Mesa 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 |
Compared with Colorado, Mesa County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
Orchard Mesa at a glance: I-70 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Orchard Mesa.
Overview
Police reported 390 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mesa County since 2015: 122 people were injured and 18 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Orchard Mesa 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.
13.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 14.8% across Colorado.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 10 miles of Orchard Mesa with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come 23 Rd (1), CR-30 Rd (1) and CR-S Broadway (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (Colorado: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Orchard Mesa fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mesa County.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.3% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Mesa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 3 |
| 23 Rd | 1 |
| CR-30 Rd | 1 |
| CR-S Broadway | 1 |
| River Rd | 1 |
| SR-141 | 1 |
| SR-70 | 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 |
Orchard Mesa at a glance
| Land area | 3.6 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 81503) | $75,053 |
| Median home value (ZIP 81503) | $352,322 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Orchard Mesa
How many truck accidents are there in Orchard Mesa?
Since 2015, 390 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mesa County (122 injured, 18 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Orchard Mesa?
NHTSA data shows I-70 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Orchard Mesa since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Orchard Mesa?
August has the most truck crashes in Mesa County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Orchard Mesa?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mesa County since 2015, 3.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Orchard Mesa compared with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Mesa County has 19.7 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Orchard Mesa?
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.