Festus, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Festus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Festus and Jefferson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jefferson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Missouri
Jefferson County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.2 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.0% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 58% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 32% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.1% | 40.7% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 21.9% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Jefferson County sits below Missouri on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Jefferson County: 3.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 7.2% in Missouri.
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 1,511 truck crashes since 2015, with 723 people injured and 40 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
With 167 truck crashes reported in Festus since 2015, this page uses Jefferson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (9.8% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 36.1% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Missouri: 7.2%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Festus since 2015: I-55 (4), US-67 (4), SR-110 (1), SR-21 (1) and SR-67 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 40 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Missouri.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (15% of them).
They recorded 5.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Festus fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 4 |
| US-67 | 4 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-21 | 1 |
| SR-67 | 1 |
| Sr-A | 1 |
| Sr-M | 1 |
| US-61 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| Is 55 | 559 |
| US-67 | 168 |
| Mo 30 | 74 |
| Mo 21 | 60 |
| US-61 | 46 |
| Mo 141 | 45 |
| Rt A | 27 |
| Rt Z | 26 |
Festus at a glance
| Population | 13,730 |
| Land area | 5.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2,325 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 63019) | $72,569 |
| Median home value (ZIP 63019) | $186,401 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 94 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 88 | -6% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 90 | +1% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 130 | +45% | 2.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 94 to 130. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Festus
How common are truck crashes in Festus?
1,511 truck crashes have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, with 40 deaths and 723 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Festus?
July has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 9.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Festus?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Festus compared with Missouri?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 55.2 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Festus?
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.