Richards, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Richards: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Richards and Vernon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Vernon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 293 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Vernon County compares with Missouri
Vernon County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Vernon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Vernon County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 135.9 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.1% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 25% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.9% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.5% | 40.7% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 31.2% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Vernon County has lower values than Missouri for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
Vernon County at a glance: 0 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.0%, against 2.2% for Missouri.
Overview
Police reported 293 crashes involving commercial trucks in Vernon County since 2015: 130 people were injured and 10 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 14 days.
Richards had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Vernon County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 5.5%.
November through March accounts for 37.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.7% in Missouri.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.1% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Richards since 2015 were spread across roads: US-54 (2), CR-300 Rd (1) and US-69 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Vernon County.
Route planning tips for Richards fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2020, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Vernon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 2 |
| CR-300 Rd | 1 |
| US-69 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Vernon County) |
|---|---|
| Is 49 | 135 |
| US-54 | 58 |
| Lp 49 | 7 |
| Rt T | 7 |
| Mo 43 | 6 |
| Rt Bb | 6 |
| Rt K | 6 |
| Rt B | 5 |
Richards at a glance
| Population | 43 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 160 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 64778) | $59,737 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Vernon 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 | 17 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 18 | +5% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 19 | +7% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 26 | +33% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 17 to 26. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Richards
How many truck crashes happen in Richards?
Vernon County has had 293 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 130 people and killing 10.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Richards?
May has the most truck crashes in Vernon County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Richards?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Vernon County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Richards compare with Missouri for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 135.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Vernon County, vs 85.9 for Missouri.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Richards?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.