Meridian, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Meridian: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Meridian and McPherson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McPherson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 248 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McPherson County compares with Kansas
McPherson County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McPherson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McPherson County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.7 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 59% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.3% | 9.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.5% | 23.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.0% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.8% | 42.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.4% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
McPherson County has lower values than Kansas for garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in McPherson County: 1 in 118 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.1% across Kansas.
Overview
Since 2015, 248 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in McPherson County. They injured 84 people and killed 12.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 17 days.
Meridian had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use McPherson County numbers.
78% of truck crash reports in McPherson County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.7% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.6%).
November through March accounts for 45.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.2% in Kansas.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Meridian since 2015 were spread across roads: I-135 (1) and W 108th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.8% of the total, against 2.1% across Kansas.
Route planning tips for Meridian fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in McPherson 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 McPherson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-135 | 1 |
| W 108th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McPherson County) |
|---|---|
| I-135 | 86 |
| 14Th | 6 |
| 17Th | 6 |
| Old 81 Hwy | 3 |
| Moccasin | 3 |
| Limestone | 3 |
| 22Nd | 2 |
| 27Th | 2 |
Meridian at a glance
| Population | 347 |
| Land area | 36.1 sq mi |
| Density | 10 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 67053) | $50,417 |
| Median home value (ZIP 67053) | $112,550 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McPherson 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 | 19 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 18 | -6% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 20 | +12% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 22 | +12% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 19 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 22. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Meridian
How many truck crashes happen in Meridian?
Since 2015, 248 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in McPherson County (84 injured, 12 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Meridian?
The worst month is January: 11.7% of truck crashes in McPherson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Meridian?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in McPherson County since 2015 (0.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Meridian compare with Kansas?
McPherson County records 70.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.4 across Kansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Meridian?
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.