Elk Park, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk Park: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk Park and Avery County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Avery County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 116 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Avery County compares with North Carolina
Avery County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Avery County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Avery County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.1 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 8% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 64% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.0% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 5.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 13.6% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 33% below the state |
Avery County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
Avery County at a glance: 10.0% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Overview
Police reported 116 crashes involving commercial trucks in Avery County since 2015: 73 people were injured and 1 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 36 days.
Elk Park had 18 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Avery County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.7% of the year) and are lowest in December (4.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 12.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.0% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Elk Park since 2015: US-19E (3) and CR-BUCK Mountain Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Elk Park fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Avery County.
- With 10.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Avery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-19E | 3 |
| CR-BUCK Mountain Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Avery County) |
|---|---|
| Branch Water | 1 |
| Crossnore Elementary | 1 |
| Freds General Merchant | 1 |
| Hpp | 1 |
| Linville Fd | 1 |
| Nc 194 | 1 |
| Nc 194 B | 1 |
| Old Mortimer | 1 |
Elk Park at a glance
| Population | 555 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 803 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28622) | $44,028 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28622) | $190,321 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Avery 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 | 6 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | -3% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 9 | +60% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 12 | +25% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 12. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk Park
How many truck crashes happen in Elk Park?
Avery County has had 116 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 73 people and killing 1.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Elk Park?
Truck crashes in Avery County peak in January, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elk Park?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Avery County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Elk Park compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 56.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Avery County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Elk Park?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.