Helena, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in 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 |
Compared with Montana, Lewis and Clark County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
Helena at a glance: US-12 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena: 3 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.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 19 days.
With 5 truck crashes reported in 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
Truck crashes peak in October (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in May (3.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out 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). 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 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-12, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 at a glance
| Population | 34,729 |
| Land area | 17.2 sq mi |
| Density | 2,023 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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena
How common are truck crashes in Helena?
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?
Since 2015, US-12 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Helena: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in 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 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 Helena compare with Montana?
The yearly rate is 24.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lewis and Clark County, vs 64.3 for Montana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Helena?
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.