Wardsville, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wardsville: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wardsville 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).
What stands out in Wardsville: US-54 2 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Wardsville.
Overview
Since 2015, 452 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cole County. They injured 152 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
With 10 truck crashes reported in Wardsville since 2015, this page uses Cole County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (9.1%).
3.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.2% across Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-54 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: SR-179 (1), Sr-C (1) and Sr-M (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
14 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.1% share (Missouri: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Wardsville fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-54; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.1% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Cole County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 2 |
| SR-179 | 1 |
| Sr-C | 1 |
| Sr-M | 1 |
| US-63 | 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 |
Wardsville at a glance
| Population | 1,661 |
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Density | 480 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 65101) | $74,807 |
| Median home value (ZIP 65101) | $243,200 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wardsville
How many truck crashes happen in Wardsville?
Since 2015, 452 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cole County (152 injured, 12 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Wardsville?
Since 2015, US-54 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Wardsville: 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Wardsville?
The worst month is October: 11.3% of truck crashes in Cole County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Wardsville?
Garbage trucks were involved in 14 reported crashes in Cole County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
How does Wardsville compare with Missouri for truck crashes?
Cole County records 50.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 85.9 across Missouri.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wardsville?
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.