Elkhart, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elkhart: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elkhart and Bates County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Bates County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 258 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bates County compares with Missouri
Bates County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bates County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bates County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 135.3 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 25% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.8% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 26% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.2% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.7% | 40.7% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 27.5% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Bates County has lower values than Missouri for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
What stands out in Bates County: September worst month: 14.0% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Bates County has recorded 258 truck crashes since 2015, with 98 people injured and 12 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 16 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Elkhart since 2015, this page uses Bates County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (14.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.6% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Elkhart is I-49, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-NW 6001 (1), CR-NW 6002 (1) and SR-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Missouri.
Route planning tips for Elkhart fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-49, 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
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 Bates County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 3 |
| CR-NW 6001 | 1 |
| CR-NW 6002 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Sr-V | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bates County) |
|---|---|
| Is 49 | 131 |
| Mo 52 | 26 |
| Rt D | 18 |
| Mo 18 | 16 |
| Rt F | 5 |
| Rt A | 5 |
| Rt B | 4 |
| Rt O | 4 |
Elkhart at a glance
| Population | 286 |
| Land area | 35.4 sq mi |
| Density | 8 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 64723) | $63,500 |
| Median home value (ZIP 64723) | $176,671 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Bates 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 | 18 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 16 | -11% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 13 | -17% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 28 | +117% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 28. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elkhart
How many truck accidents are there in Elkhart?
258 truck crashes have been reported in Bates County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 98 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Elkhart?
I-49 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Elkhart since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Elkhart?
Truck crashes in Bates County peak in September, with 14.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elkhart?
Since 2015, Bates County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Elkhart compared with Missouri?
Bates County records 135.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 85.9 across Missouri.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Elkhart?
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.