Helena Valley West Central, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena Valley West Central: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena Valley West Central 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.
Helena Valley West Central at a glance: US-12 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena Valley West Central since 2015.
Overview
Lewis and Clark County has recorded 228 truck crashes since 2015, with 69 people injured and 12 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 19 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Helena Valley West Central since 2015; patterns below come from Lewis and Clark County as a whole.
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
Truck crashes peak in October (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in May (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
34.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 39.4% across Montana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Helena Valley West Central is US-12, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by Canyon Ferry Rd (1), I-15 (1) and N Rodney St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.9% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for Helena Valley West Central fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County.
- 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 | 2 |
| 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 West Central at a glance
| Land area | 26.4 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 Helena Valley West Central
How many truck crashes happen in Helena Valley West Central?
Lewis and Clark County has had 228 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 69 people and killing 12.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Helena Valley West Central?
NHTSA data shows US-12 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena Valley West Central since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Helena Valley West Central?
The worst month is October: 13.2% of truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Helena Valley West Central?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Lewis and Clark County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
How does Helena Valley West Central 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 do I plan a garbage truck route in Helena Valley West Central?
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.