Paxton, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Paxton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Paxton and Worcester County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Worcester County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Worcester County compares with Massachusetts
Worcester County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Worcester County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Worcester County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.7 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 23% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.3% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Worcester County has lower values than Massachusetts for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Worcester County at a glance: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 14% of them.
Overview
Worcester County has recorded 3,757 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,623 people injured and 63 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
With 9 truck crashes reported in Paxton since 2015, this page uses Worcester County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.7% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
9.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 6.6% across Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Paxton since 2015 were spread across roads: I-290 (3), I-90 (3), Ernest Ave (1), Kelly Square (1) and Paul Tivnan Drive (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 148 crashes, 3.9% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.5 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Paxton fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Worcester County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.3% of truck crashes here, more than Massachusetts; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Worcester County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-290 | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| Ernest Ave | 1 |
| Kelly Square | 1 |
| Paul Tivnan Drive | 1 |
| Pleasant St | 1 |
| SR-12 | 1 |
| SR-122 | 1 |
| SR-31 | 1 |
| SR-56 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Worcester County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 54 |
| Cambridge St | 49 |
| Hammond St | 26 |
| Southwest Cutoff | 26 |
| Turnpike Rd | 23 |
| Webster St | 19 |
| E Main St | 13 |
| Southbridge St | 12 |
Paxton at a glance
| Population | 5,043 |
| Land area | 14.7 sq mi |
| Density | 343 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01612) | $134,083 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01612) | $473,222 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Worcester 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 | 76 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 220 | +190% | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 295 | +34% | 5.3 |
| 2020s | 352 | +19% | 4.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 76 a year in the 1990s and 352 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Paxton
How many truck accidents are there in Paxton?
Worcester County has had 3,757 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,623 people and killing 63.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Paxton?
The worst month is August: 9.4% of truck crashes in Worcester County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Paxton?
Since 2015, Worcester County has reported 148 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Paxton compare with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 35.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Worcester County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Paxton?
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.