Smith, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Smith: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Smith and Thomas County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Thomas County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 312 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Thomas County compares with Kansas
Thomas County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Thomas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Thomas County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 327.4 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 5.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.6% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.5% | 23.1% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.0% | 42.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 29.2% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Kansas, Thomas County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
Thomas County at a glance: 19.6% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.3% across Kansas.
Overview
Thomas County has recorded 312 truck crashes since 2015, with 121 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 14 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Smith since 2015; patterns below come from Thomas County as a whole.
67% of truck crash reports in Thomas County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.2% for Kansas.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.6% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Smith since 2015 were spread across roads: US-83 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Thomas County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Smith fleets
- Plan April schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Thomas County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 19.6% of truck crashes here, more than Kansas; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Thomas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-83 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Thomas County) |
|---|---|
| I-070 | 165 |
| Willow | 3 |
| I-70 | 3 |
| County Road 2 | 3 |
| County Road 11 | 3 |
| Cord 20 | 2 |
| Country Club | 2 |
| 4Th | 1 |
Smith at a glance
| Population | 239 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 67753) | $62,396 |
| Median home value (ZIP 67753) | $114,469 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Thomas 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 | 14 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 21 | +52% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 19 | -8% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 33 | +72% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 33 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Smith
How many truck accidents are there in Smith?
Thomas County has had 312 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 121 people and killing 14.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Smith?
April has the most truck crashes in Thomas County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Smith?
Since 2015, Thomas County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Smith compared with Kansas?
The yearly rate is 327.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Thomas County, vs 61.4 for Kansas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Smith?
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.