Emporia, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Emporia: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Emporia and Lyon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lyon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 459 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lyon County compares with Kansas
Lyon County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lyon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lyon County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 119.9 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 33% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.3% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 23.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.2% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.6% | 42.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.8% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Lyon County has lower values than Kansas for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Lyon County: January worst month: 16.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Lyon County has recorded 459 truck crashes since 2015, with 112 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
Only 115 truck crashes were reported in Emporia since 2015; patterns below come from Lyon County as a whole.
62% of truck crash reports in Lyon 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, 16.6% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.6% of truck crashes, against 42.2% across Kansas.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Emporia is I-35, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-50 (2), I-335 (1) and Yy Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
9 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Kansas: 2.1%).
Route planning tips for Emporia fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lyon County.
- Look at alternatives to I-35 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 16.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Kansas), 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
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 Lyon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 5 |
| US-50 | 2 |
| I-335 | 1 |
| Yy Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lyon County) |
|---|---|
| I-035 | 157 |
| I-335 | 71 |
| I335Kta | 16 |
| I-35 | 10 |
| I035Kta | 10 |
| Road Y5 | 6 |
| South | 6 |
| Weaver | 5 |
Emporia at a glance
| Population | 24,354 |
| Land area | 12.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,956 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 66801) | $56,794 |
| Median home value (ZIP 66801) | $152,233 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lyon 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 | 26 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 30 | +17% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 29 | -3% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 47 | +59% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 26 to 47. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Emporia
How many truck accidents are there in Emporia?
Lyon County has had 459 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 112 people and killing 14.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Emporia?
Since 2015, I-35 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Emporia: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Emporia?
The worst month is January: 16.6% of truck crashes in Lyon County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Emporia?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lyon County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Emporia compare with Kansas for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lyon County has 119.9 truck crashes a year; Kansas has 61.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Emporia?
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.