Rutherford College, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rutherford College: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rutherford College and Burke County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Burke County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 652 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Burke County compares with North Carolina
Burke County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Burke County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Burke County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 13% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with North Carolina, Burke County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Rutherford College: I-40 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Rutherford College: 7 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 652 crashes involving commercial trucks in Burke County since 2015: 400 people were injured and 14 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
Only 14 truck crashes were reported in Rutherford College since 2015; patterns below come from Burke County as a whole.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 11.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come US-321 (3), Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd (2) and US-64 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 16 of the truck crashes here, or 2.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Rutherford College fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Burke County.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Burke County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 7 |
| US-321 | 3 |
| Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd | 2 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| SR-1159 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Ssr-1001 Connelly Springs Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1145 Virginia St | 1 |
| Ssr-1786 Miller Bridge Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Burke County) |
|---|---|
| Burkemont Ave | 11 |
| W Fleming Dr | 10 |
| Sanford Dr | 8 |
| S Sterling St | 7 |
| N Green St | 7 |
| Main St | 7 |
| Kirksey Dr | 5 |
| Carbon City Rd | 4 |
Rutherford College at a glance
| Population | 1,228 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 532 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28671) | $73,929 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28671) | $290,218 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Burke 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 | 40 | — | 2.7 |
| 2000s | 47 | +17% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 54 | +15% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 50 | -8% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 50 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rutherford College
How many truck accidents are there in Rutherford College?
652 truck crashes have been reported in Burke County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 400 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Rutherford College?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Rutherford College: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Rutherford College?
Truck crashes in Burke County peak in October, with 11.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rutherford College?
Since 2015, Burke County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Rutherford College compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 64.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Burke County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Rutherford College?
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.