Ellis County, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ellis 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
4 of 215 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ellis County compares with Kansas
Ellis County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ellis County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ellis County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 65.2 | 61.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 8% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.4% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.7% | 23.1% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.3% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.9% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Ellis County sits below Kansas on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Kansas on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Ellis County: 14.4% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Kansas: 9.3%).
Overview
Since 2015, 215 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ellis County. They injured 53 people and killed 7.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 5.6%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.3% of truck crashes, against 42.2% across Kansas.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.4% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Ellis County is US-183, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-70 (2), 160th Ave (1) and 210th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.1% in Kansas.
Route planning tips for Ellis County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-183; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 14.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Kansas), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Ellis County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ellis County) |
|---|---|
| US-183 | 4 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| 160th Ave | 1 |
| 210th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ellis County) |
|---|---|
| I-070 | 127 |
| Old U040 | 7 |
| 230Th | 6 |
| 130Th | 4 |
| 27Th | 4 |
| Ellis | 4 |
| U183 Bypass | 4 |
| Toulon | 3 |
Ellis County at a glance
| Population | 29,007 |
| Land area | 899.9 sq mi |
| Density | 32 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $63,676 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ellis 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 | 13 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 18 | +36% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 19 | +5% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 20 | +9% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 13 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ellis County
ZIP codes in Ellis County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ellis County
How common are truck crashes in Ellis County?
215 truck crashes have been reported in Ellis County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 53 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Ellis County?
Since 2015, US-183 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Ellis County: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ellis County?
The worst month is January: 11.6% of truck crashes in Ellis County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Ellis County?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ellis County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Ellis County compare with Kansas?
Per 100,000 residents, Ellis County has 65.2 truck crashes a year; Kansas has 61.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ellis County?
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.