Bolton, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bolton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bolton and Columbus County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Columbus County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 6.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Columbus County compares with North Carolina
Columbus County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbus County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbus County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 105.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.87 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 90% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.5% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Columbus County sits below North Carolina on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Columbus County at a glance: 6.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (North Carolina: 2.5).
Overview
Columbus County has recorded 611 truck crashes since 2015, with 526 people injured and 36 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
Bolton had 87 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Columbus County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 41.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.7%).
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-87 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). Next come SR-11 (2), US-74 (2) and SR-211 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 26 of the truck crashes here, or 4.3%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (23% of them).
They recorded 4.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 6.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bolton fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-87; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Columbus County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-87 | 6 |
| SR-11 | 2 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| SR-211 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbus County) |
|---|---|
| International Paper | 7 |
| Love Mill Rd | 6 |
| Jk Powell Blvd | 5 |
| Joe Brown Hwy | 3 |
| N Brown St | 3 |
| N Jk Powell Blvd | 3 |
| Han-Dee Hugo | 2 |
| Hickman Rd | 2 |
Bolton at a glance
| Population | 383 |
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Density | 120 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28423) | $52,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28423) | $135,202 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbus 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 | 27 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 35 | +30% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 52 | +49% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 47 | -11% | 2.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 27 to 47. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bolton
How common are truck crashes in Bolton?
Columbus County has had 611 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 526 people and killing 36.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Bolton?
NHTSA data shows SR-87 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bolton since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bolton?
Truck crashes in Columbus County peak in July, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bolton?
26 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Columbus County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Bolton compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Columbus County records 105.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bolton?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.