Spirit Lake, ID truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spirit Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Spirit Lake and Kootenai County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kootenai County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 540 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kootenai County compares with Idaho
Kootenai County against Idaho and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kootenai County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kootenai County | Idaho | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.2 | 37.4 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.0 | 6.1 | 3.4 | 18% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.55 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.7% | 16.0% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.1% | 23.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.3% | 10.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Kootenai County has lower values than Idaho for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Kootenai County: 16.3% share of truck crashes in rain, sleet or snow (Idaho: 10.2%).
Overview
Police reported 540 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kootenai County since 2015: 245 people were injured and 26 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Spirit Lake had 12 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Kootenai County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in June (6.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Idaho.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 18.7% of truck crashes, compared with 16.0% in Idaho.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-95 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-41 (1) and Spirit Lake Cuttoff (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Idaho: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Spirit Lake fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kootenai County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 18.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Idaho), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Kootenai County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-95 | 3 |
| SR-41 | 1 |
| Spirit Lake Cuttoff | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kootenai County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 195 |
| US-95 | 89 |
| Sh 53 | 42 |
| Sh 41 | 31 |
| Sh 3 | 11 |
| Prairie | 9 |
| Seltice | 8 |
| Hayden | 7 |
Spirit Lake at a glance
| Population | 2,465 |
| Land area | 2.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,004 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 83869) | $67,099 |
| Median home value (ZIP 83869) | $431,223 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kootenai 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 | 15 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 53 | +255% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 44 | -17% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 40 | -9% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 15 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 40. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Spirit Lake
How many truck crashes happen in Spirit Lake?
Kootenai County has had 540 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 245 people and killing 26.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Spirit Lake?
Since 2015, US-95 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Spirit Lake: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Spirit Lake?
Truck crashes in Kootenai County peak in July, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Spirit Lake?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kootenai County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Spirit Lake compare with Idaho for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Kootenai County has 24.2 truck crashes a year; Idaho has 37.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Spirit Lake?
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.