Telluride, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Telluride: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Telluride and San Miguel County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Miguel County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 46 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How San Miguel County compares with Colorado
San Miguel County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Miguel County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Miguel County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.3 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.7 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.16 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 50% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.9% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.6% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Compared with Colorado, San Miguel County is lower on injuries per crash, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for San Miguel County: 1 in 15 garbage-truck share of crashes is 6.7%, against 2.8% for Colorado.
Overview
San Miguel County has recorded 46 truck crashes since 2015, with 7 people injured and 3 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 89 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Telluride since 2015, this page uses San Miguel County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
83% of truck crash reports in San Miguel County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.2% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (0.0%).
November through March accounts for 44.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 13.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 28.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Telluride since 2015: US-550 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 6.5% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for Telluride fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Miguel County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 28.9% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in San Miguel County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Miguel County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 141 1,584 Feet N Of Mp 20 | 2 |
| Hwy 145 At Mp 63 | 2 |
| Hwy 145 At Mp 70 | 2 |
| Mountain Village Blvd | 2 |
| 57P Rd At Mp 1 | 1 |
| Adams Ranch Rd | 1 |
| Cr 44Zs 3,696 Feet S Of Mp 5 | 1 |
| Deep Creek Rd | 1 |
Telluride at a glance
| Population | 2,486 |
| Land area | 2.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,124 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 81426) | $135,179 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Miguel 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 | 5 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 6 | +30% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 4 | -36% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 5 | +27% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 5 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Telluride
How many truck crashes happen in Telluride?
Since 2015, 46 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Miguel County (7 injured, 3 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Telluride?
The worst month is January: 15.2% of truck crashes in San Miguel County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Telluride?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in San Miguel County since 2015 (6.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Telluride compared with Colorado?
San Miguel County records 52.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 32.6 across Colorado.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Telluride?
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.