East Helena, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in East Helena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in East Helena and Lewis and Clark County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lewis and Clark County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 228 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lewis and Clark County compares with Montana
Lewis and Clark County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lewis and Clark County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.9 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 61% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.5% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.3% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 16% below the state |
| After dark | 20.9% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Lewis and Clark County has lower values than Montana for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Montana on deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
East Helena at a glance: US-12 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of East Helena since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 228 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lewis and Clark County. They injured 69 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in East Helena since 2015, this page uses Lewis and Clark County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
82% of truck crash reports in Lewis and Clark County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 3.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.6% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 34.5% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-12 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by Canyon Ferry Rd (1), I-15 (1) and N Rodney St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 0.9% in Montana.
Route planning tips for East Helena fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-12; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lewis and Clark County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 5 |
| Canyon Ferry Rd | 1 |
| I-15 | 1 |
| N Rodney St | 1 |
| Ssr-453 Lincoln Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lewis and Clark County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 221.5 I-15 | 4 |
| Mm 213.0 I-15 | 3 |
| Mm221.6 I-15 | 2 |
| Canyon Ferry Rd\Custer Ave | 1 |
| E Us Highway 12 And Lola St | 1 |
| Mm 108.2 Mt Highway 200 | 1 |
| Mm 213.1 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 213.1 I15 | 1 |
East Helena at a glance
| Population | 2,239 |
| Land area | 4.1 sq mi |
| Density | 552 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lewis and Clark 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 | — | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 18 | — | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 18 | +1% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 18 | +0% | 1.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about East Helena
How many truck accidents are there in East Helena?
Lewis and Clark County has had 228 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 69 people and killing 12.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in East Helena?
Since 2015, US-12 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of East Helena: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in East Helena?
Truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County peak in October, with 13.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in East Helena?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lewis and Clark County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in East Helena compare with Montana?
Lewis and Clark County records 24.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 64.3 across Montana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in East Helena?
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.