Topsfield, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Topsfield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Topsfield and Essex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Essex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with Massachusetts
Essex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.2% | 24.8% | same |
Essex County sits below Massachusetts on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
Topsfield at a glance: SR-125 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Topsfield since 2015.
Overview
Essex County has recorded 1,776 truck crashes since 2015, with 816 people injured and 33 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 11 truck crashes were reported in Topsfield since 2015; patterns below come from Essex County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.9% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.8%).
November through March accounts for 43.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.6% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-125 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: Elm St (1), High St (1) and I-95 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 137 crashes, 7.7% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.8, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Topsfield fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-125; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-125 | 2 |
| Elm St | 1 |
| High St | 1 |
| I-95 | 1 |
| Newbury St | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 495 | 23 |
| Rte 1 | 17 |
| Broadway | 12 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Rte 95 | 11 |
| Lowell St | 7 |
| Washington St | 7 |
| Rte 495 S X 97A | 6 |
Topsfield at a glance
| Population | 6,620 |
| Land area | 2.7 sq mi |
| Density | 2,446 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01983) | $195,718 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01983) | $852,419 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 40 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 112 | +183% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 158 | +42% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 159 | +1% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 159 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Topsfield
How many truck crashes happen in Topsfield?
Since 2015, 1,776 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Essex County (816 injured, 33 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Topsfield?
Since 2015, SR-125 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Topsfield: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Topsfield?
Truck crashes in Essex County peak in December, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Topsfield?
Since 2015, Essex County has reported 137 garbage-truck crashes, or 7.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Topsfield compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Essex County has 18.6 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Topsfield?
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.