Sparta, KY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sparta: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sparta and Gallatin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Gallatin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 391 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Gallatin County compares with Kentucky
Gallatin County against Kentucky and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gallatin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gallatin County | Kentucky | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 382.0 | 68.4 | 49.7 | 5.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 90% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.3% | 5.0% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.6% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 34.3% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Gallatin County has lower values than Kentucky for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Gallatin County: 10.3% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 5.0% in Kentucky.
Overview
Gallatin County has recorded 391 truck crashes since 2015, with 140 people injured and 9 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
Only 138 truck crashes were reported in Sparta since 2015; patterns below come from Gallatin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across Kentucky.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 10.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Kentucky: 5.0%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-71 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by US-42 (3), SR-156 (1) and SR-35 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.3% of the total, against 2.6% across Kentucky.
Route planning tips for Sparta fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-71; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 10.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Kentucky; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Gallatin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-71 | 4 |
| US-42 | 3 |
| SR-156 | 1 |
| SR-35 | 1 |
| Sr- 156 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gallatin County) |
|---|---|
| I-0071 | 290 |
| US-0042 | 32 |
| Ky1039 | 22 |
| US-0127 | 6 |
| Loves Dr | 6 |
| Ky0035 | 5 |
| Ky0016 | 4 |
| Ky0467 | 4 |
Sparta at a glance
| Population | 231 |
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 41086) | $61,824 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gallatin 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 23 | +64% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 36 | +53% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 35 | -2% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 35 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sparta
How many truck accidents are there in Sparta?
Gallatin County has had 391 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 140 people and killing 9.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Sparta?
NHTSA data shows I-71 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Sparta since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Sparta?
August has the most truck crashes in Gallatin County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sparta?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Gallatin County since 2015 (0.3% of truck crashes).
How does Sparta compare with Kentucky for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Gallatin County has 382.0 truck crashes a year; Kentucky has 68.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Sparta?
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.