Helena Valley Northeast, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena Valley Northeast: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena Valley Northeast 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 |
Compared with Montana, Lewis and Clark County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Helena Valley Northeast: US-12 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena Valley Northeast: 3 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.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
Helena Valley Northeast had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Lewis and Clark County numbers.
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
October has the most truck crashes, 13.2% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 34.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-12 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: 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 Helena Valley Northeast fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-12 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 | 3 |
| Canyon Ferry Rd | 1 |
| I-15 | 1 |
| N Rodney St | 1 |
| Sr-Green Meadow Dr | 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 |
Helena Valley Northeast at a glance
| Land area | 53.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 59602) | $92,985 |
| Median home value (ZIP 59602) | $407,183 |
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 Helena Valley Northeast
How many truck accidents are there in Helena Valley Northeast?
Since 2015, 228 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lewis and Clark County (69 injured, 12 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Helena Valley Northeast?
US-12 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Helena Valley Northeast since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Helena Valley Northeast?
The worst month is October: 13.2% of truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Helena Valley Northeast?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Lewis and Clark County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
How does Helena Valley Northeast compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lewis and Clark County has 24.9 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Helena Valley Northeast?
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.