Independence, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence and Montgomery County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Montgomery County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 240 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Montgomery County compares with Kansas
Montgomery County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montgomery County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montgomery County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.0 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.6 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 16% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.8% | 23.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.4% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 25% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.1% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Montgomery County sits below Kansas on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Independence at a glance: US-169 4 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Independence.
Overview
Montgomery County has recorded 240 truck crashes since 2015, with 82 people injured and 16 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 18 days.
Only 18 truck crashes were reported in Independence since 2015; patterns below come from Montgomery County as a whole.
55% of truck crash reports in Montgomery County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.2% for Kansas.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 6.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Kansas: 9.3%).
Where crashes happen
US-169 leads within 10 miles of Independence with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-160 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.1% across Kansas.
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Review driver schedules for April, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-169; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Montgomery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 4 |
| US-160 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montgomery County) |
|---|---|
| 11Th | 8 |
| Main | 6 |
| 8Th | 5 |
| Sunflower | 4 |
| Walnut | 3 |
| Cr5700 | 3 |
| Buckeye | 3 |
| Cr 3900 | 2 |
Independence at a glance
| Population | 8,287 |
| Land area | 7.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,106 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 67301) | $54,950 |
| Median home value (ZIP 67301) | $120,689 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montgomery 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 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 21 | +57% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 23 | +10% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 19 | -16% | 1.2 |
In the 1990s about 13 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 19. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Independence
How many truck crashes happen in Independence?
Montgomery County has had 240 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 82 people and killing 16.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Independence?
US-169 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Independence since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Independence?
April has the most truck crashes in Montgomery County, 13.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Independence?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Independence compare with Kansas?
Montgomery County records 68.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.4 across Kansas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Independence?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.