Helena Valley Southeast, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena Valley Southeast: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena Valley Southeast 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 sits below Montana on 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.
The headline for Helena Valley Southeast: US-12 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena Valley Southeast: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 228 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lewis and Clark County since 2015: 69 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Helena Valley Southeast 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
October has the most truck crashes, 13.2% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
34.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 39.4% across Montana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-12 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come Canyon Ferry Rd (1), I-15 (1) and N Rodney St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.9% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for Helena Valley Southeast fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County.
- Check whether your routes use US-12, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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.
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 |
| 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 Southeast at a glance
| Land area | 21.5 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 |
In the 2000s about 18 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 18. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena Valley Southeast
How many truck crashes happen in Helena Valley Southeast?
228 truck crashes have been reported in Lewis and Clark County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 69 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Helena Valley Southeast?
US-12 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Helena Valley Southeast since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Helena Valley Southeast?
Truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County peak in October, with 13.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Helena Valley Southeast?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lewis and Clark County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Helena Valley Southeast compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Lewis and Clark County records 24.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 64.3 across Montana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Helena Valley Southeast?
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.