Helena Flats, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena Flats: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena Flats and Flathead County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Flathead County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 379 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Flathead County compares with Montana
Flathead County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Flathead County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Flathead County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.5 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 57% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.2% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 49% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 31% below the state |
| After dark | 16.2% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 47% below the state |
Flathead County sits below Montana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Flathead County: 1 in 38 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 0.9% across Montana.
Overview
Flathead County has recorded 379 truck crashes since 2015, with 152 people injured and 23 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Helena Flats since 2015, this page uses Flathead County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
84% of truck crash reports in Flathead County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (11.9% of the year) and are lowest in February (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.3% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.2% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena Flats since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-35 (3), US-2 (3), SR-40 (2), US-93 (2) and Sr- Hwy 35 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for Helena Flats fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.2% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; 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
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 Flathead County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-35 | 3 |
| US-2 | 3 |
| SR-40 | 2 |
| US-93 | 2 |
| Sr- Hwy 35 | 1 |
| US-2E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Flathead County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 4 |
| Church Dr | 2 |
| Helena Flats Rd | 2 |
| Truck Route 9Th St | 2 |
| 1St Ave E / 11Th St | 1 |
| Blacktail Heights | 1 |
| Blacktail Rd | 1 |
| Glenwood Dr | 1 |
Helena Flats at a glance
| Land area | 8.4 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Flathead 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 | — | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 39 | — | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 27 | -30% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 33 | +22% | 2.4 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 39 to 33. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena Flats
How many truck crashes happen in Helena Flats?
Flathead County has had 379 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 152 people and killing 23.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Helena Flats?
July has the most truck crashes in Flathead County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Helena Flats?
Garbage trucks were involved in 9 reported crashes in Flathead County since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Helena Flats compare with Montana?
The yearly rate is 27.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Flathead County, vs 64.3 for Montana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Helena Flats?
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.