Bell County, KY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bell County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 128 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bell County compares with Kentucky
Bell County against Kentucky and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bell County | Kentucky | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.7 | 68.4 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 5.0% | 6.2% | 84% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.1% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.5% | 17.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 15.9% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 35% below the state |
Bell County has lower values than Kentucky for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Kentucky on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar).
Bell County at a glance: 8.7 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Kentucky.
Overview
Police reported 128 crashes involving commercial trucks in Bell County since 2015: 87 people were injured and 11 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 50.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for Kentucky.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 13.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Kentucky: 5.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Bell County is US-119, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-25E (2) and SR-2079 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 2.6% across Kentucky.
Route planning tips for Bell County fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Bell County.
- Check whether your routes use US-119, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Bell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Bell County) |
|---|---|
| US-119 | 4 |
| US-25E | 2 |
| SR-2079 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bell County) |
|---|---|
| US-0025E | 51 |
| US-0119 | 22 |
| Ky0074 | 11 |
| Ky0066 | 6 |
| Ky0441 | 6 |
| Ky0221 | 5 |
| Ky2079 | 4 |
| 18Th St | 2 |
Bell County at a glance
| Population | 23,051 |
| Land area | 359.0 sq mi |
| Density | 64 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $34,312 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bell 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 | 12 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 17 | +39% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 14 | -14% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 10 | -33% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Bell County
ZIP codes in Bell County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Bell County
How common are truck crashes in Bell County?
Since 2015, 128 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Bell County (87 injured, 11 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Bell County?
NHTSA data shows US-119 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes in Bell County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bell County?
The worst month is November: 13.3% of truck crashes in Bell County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bell County?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Bell County since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Bell County compare with Kentucky for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 49.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Bell County, vs 68.4 for Kentucky.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bell County?
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.