Helena West Side, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena West Side: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena West Side 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.
Helena West Side at a glance: US-12 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena West Side: 2 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.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 19 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Helena West Side 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
The worst month is October with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 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.
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 (2). 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 West Side 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 |
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 West Side at a glance
| Land area | 15.1 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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 2000s and 18 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 West Side
How common are truck crashes in Helena West Side?
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 West Side?
US-12 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Helena West Side since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Helena West Side?
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 West Side?
Since 2015, Lewis and Clark County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Helena West Side 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 can I plan a safer truck route in Helena West Side?
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.