Puako, HI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Puako: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Puako and Hawaii County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hawaii County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 140 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hawaii County compares with Hawaii
Hawaii County against Hawaii and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hawaii County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hawaii County | Hawaii | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 5.6 | 7.3 | 49.7 | 23% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 18.5 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 3.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.94 | 0.70 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 7.9% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.2% | |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.7% | 30.0% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 12.1% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 30.0% | 41.3% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 21.5% | 20.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Hawaii County sits below Hawaii on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Hawaii on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Hawaii County: 18.5 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 6.2 in Hawaii.
Overview
Hawaii County has recorded 140 truck crashes since 2015, with 127 people injured and 25 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 31 days in fully reported years.
Puako had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hawaii County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (13.6% of the year) and are lowest in February (2.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 30.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.3% for Hawaii.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (10.0%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Puako since 2015: SR-19 (1) and SR-190 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 3.6% of the total, against 7.9% across Hawaii.
Route planning tips for Puako fleets
- Plan April schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hawaii County.
- 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 Hawaii County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-19 | 1 |
| SR-190 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hawaii County) |
|---|---|
| Daniel K Inouye Hwy / .25 Mile E Of 44 Mm | 2 |
| 34-1162 Hawai¿I Belt Rd | 1 |
| 35-0286 Kihalani Stead Road | 1 |
| 75-5863 Kuakaini Hwy | 1 |
| Ana Keohokalole Hwy / 84' Nw Of Palani Rd | 1 |
| Banyan Way / Hilo Seaside Hotel | 1 |
| Daniel K Inouye Hwy / 10' S Of 17 Mm | 1 |
| Daniel K Inouye Hwy / 13.2' W Of Hwy 190 | 1 |
Puako at a glance
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 96738) | $80,928 |
| Median home value (ZIP 96738) | $809,786 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hawaii 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 | 17 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 13 | -21% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 7 | -46% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 15 | +106% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 17 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Puako
How many truck crashes happen in Puako?
Since 2015, 140 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hawaii County (127 injured, 25 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Puako?
April has the most truck crashes in Hawaii County, 13.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Puako?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hawaii County since 2015, 3.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Puako compared with Hawaii?
The yearly rate is 5.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hawaii County, vs 7.3 for Hawaii.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Puako?
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.