Montezuma County, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Montezuma 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 of 208 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Montezuma County compares with Colorado
Montezuma County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montezuma County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montezuma County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.8 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Montezuma County has lower values than Colorado for garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Montezuma County: 0 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.0%, vs 2.8% in Colorado.
Overview
Police reported 208 crashes involving commercial trucks in Montezuma County since 2015: 72 people were injured and 15 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 20 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.8%.
November through March accounts for 52.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 24.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Montezuma County is US-491, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-160 (5) and SR-145 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Montezuma County.
Route planning tips for Montezuma County fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-491; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 24.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Colorado), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Montezuma County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Montezuma County) |
|---|---|
| US-491 | 8 |
| US-160 | 5 |
| SR-145 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montezuma County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 491 At Mp 45 | 7 |
| S Broadway At W Main St | 4 |
| SR-491 | 4 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 41 | 3 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 39 | 3 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 29 | 3 |
| Hwy 160 At Mp 25 | 3 |
| Colorado State Patrol | 2 |
Montezuma County at a glance
| Population | 26,841 |
| Land area | 2,029.3 sq mi |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $63,888 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montezuma 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 | 14 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 15 | +12% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 16 | +3% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 19 | +18% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 19. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Montezuma County
ZIP codes in Montezuma County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Montezuma County
How common are truck crashes in Montezuma County?
Montezuma County has had 208 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 72 people and killing 15.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Montezuma County?
US-491 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Montezuma County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Montezuma County?
Truck crashes in Montezuma County peak in December, with 14.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Montezuma County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Montezuma County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Montezuma County compare with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Montezuma County has 68.8 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Montezuma 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.