Independence, MS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence and Tate County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Tate County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 186 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Tate County compares with Mississippi
Tate County against Mississippi and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tate County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tate County | Mississippi | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.4 | 65.0 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 29% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.0% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 23.7% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 12.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 27.0% | 24.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Tate County has lower values than Mississippi for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
The headline for Tate County: 4.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in Mississippi.
Overview
Police reported 186 crashes involving commercial trucks in Tate County since 2015: 100 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 23 days.
Independence had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Tate County numbers.
27% of truck crash reports in Tate County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (14.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Mississippi.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 11.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.0% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Mississippi.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Independence is I-55, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-4 (3), CR-PALESTINE Road (1) and SR-309 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Mississippi: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-55, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 27.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Mississippi; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.0% of truck crashes here, more than Mississippi; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Tate County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 6 |
| SR-4 | 3 |
| CR-PALESTINE Road | 1 |
| SR-309 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tate County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 17 |
| East Main Street | 4 |
| Arkabutla Dam Rd | 2 |
| Int 55 | 2 |
| J J Ranch Road | 2 |
| Norfleet Drive | 2 |
| Palestine Road | 2 |
| Sycamore Road | 2 |
Independence at a glance
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tate 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 | 8 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +16% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 12 | +28% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 15 | +18% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 15 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 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Independence
How common are truck crashes in Independence?
Tate County has had 186 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 100 people and killing 8.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Independence?
Since 2015, I-55 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Independence?
October has the most truck crashes in Tate County, 14.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Independence?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Tate County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Independence compare with Mississippi?
Tate County records 55.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 65.0 across Mississippi.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Independence?
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.