Wakarusa, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wakarusa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wakarusa and Shawnee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Shawnee County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Shawnee County compares with Kansas
Shawnee County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shawnee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shawnee County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.7 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 43% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.0% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 23.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.8% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.1% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Compared with Kansas, Shawnee County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Kansas on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Shawnee County at a glance: 1 in 28 crashes involve a garbage truck (24 since 2015), vs 2.1% across Kansas.
Overview
Since 2015, 695 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shawnee County. They injured 208 people and killed 22.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Wakarusa since 2015, this page uses Shawnee County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
37% of truck crash reports in Shawnee County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.8% of truck crashes, against 42.2% across Kansas.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.0% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Wakarusa is I-470, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-335 (2), Se Croco Rd (1) and US-75 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
24 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.5% share (Kansas: 2.1%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (17%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Wakarusa fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-470; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- With 10.0% 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
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 Shawnee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-470 | 3 |
| I-335 | 2 |
| Se Croco Rd | 1 |
| US-75 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shawnee County) |
|---|---|
| I-070 | 189 |
| I-470 | 48 |
| Topeka | 37 |
| I-335 | 27 |
| I-70 | 14 |
| I070Kta | 14 |
| 17Th | 9 |
| 29Th | 8 |
Wakarusa at a glance
| Land area | 5.0 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 66546) | $86,607 |
| Median home value (ZIP 66546) | $238,865 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shawnee 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 | 65 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 61 | -6% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 59 | -3% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 67 | +13% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 65 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 67. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wakarusa
How common are truck crashes in Wakarusa?
695 truck crashes have been reported in Shawnee County since 2015, with 22 deaths and 208 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Wakarusa?
Since 2015, I-470 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Wakarusa: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Wakarusa?
Truck crashes in Shawnee County peak in January, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wakarusa?
Garbage trucks were involved in 24 reported crashes in Shawnee County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Wakarusa compare with Kansas?
Shawnee County records 34.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.4 across Kansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wakarusa?
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.