St. Thomas, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in St. Thomas: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in St. Thomas and Cole County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cole County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
14 of 452 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cole County compares with Missouri
Cole County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cole County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cole County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 50.1 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 42% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.1% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 52% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.8% | 40.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Cole County has lower values than Missouri for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Cole County at a glance: 3.3% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 7.2% across Missouri.
Overview
Cole County has recorded 452 truck crashes since 2015, with 152 people injured and 12 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in St. Thomas since 2015; patterns below come from Cole County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.6%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.8% of truck crashes, against 40.7% across Missouri.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
3.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.2% across Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of St. Thomas since 2015: US-54 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 14 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Missouri.
Route planning tips for St. Thomas fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 27.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Missouri; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Cole County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cole County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 97 |
| US-50 | 83 |
| Rt B | 31 |
| Rt C | 23 |
| Mo 179 | 23 |
| Cst Missouri Blvd | 22 |
| Cst W Truman Blvd | 9 |
| Cst Christy Dr | 7 |
St. Thomas at a glance
| Population | 226 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 231 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 65076) | $64,333 |
| Median home value (ZIP 65076) | $216,450 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cole 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 | 37 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 26 | -30% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 29 | +11% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 38 | +30% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 37 a year in the 1990s and 38 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about St. Thomas
How many truck crashes happen in St. Thomas?
Cole County has had 452 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 152 people and killing 12.
When do most truck crashes happen in St. Thomas?
October has the most truck crashes in Cole County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in St. Thomas?
14 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cole County since 2015, 3.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in St. Thomas compare with Missouri?
Per 100,000 residents, Cole County has 50.1 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in St. Thomas?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.