Denver, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Denver: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Denver and Lincoln County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lincoln County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 466 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lincoln County compares with North Carolina
Lincoln County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lincoln County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lincoln County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.5 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.0% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.7% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.5% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Lincoln County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Lincoln County: 3.0% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 466 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lincoln County. They injured 240 people and killed 21.
That averages about one truck crash every 9 days in fully reported years.
With 10 truck crashes reported in Denver since 2015, this page uses Lincoln County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.9% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 38.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.4%).
Road surface: 3.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
SR-16 leads within 10 miles of Denver with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-150 (3), SR-73 (2) and SR-27 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Denver fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-16 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 28.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 3.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lincoln County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-16 | 5 |
| SR-150 | 3 |
| SR-73 | 2 |
| SR-27 | 1 |
| Ssr-1003 | 1 |
| Ssr-1003 Buffaloe Shoals Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1374 | 1 |
| Ssr-1441 | 1 |
| Ssr-1861 Caleb Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lincoln County) |
|---|---|
| E Main St | 12 |
| E Main Street | 4 |
| East Main St | 4 |
| S Generals Blvd | 3 |
| Gaston St | 2 |
| N Flint St | 2 |
| Quarry Lane | 2 |
| Sain And Heavner | 2 |
Denver at a glance
| Land area | 5.9 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28037) | $111,703 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28037) | $490,803 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lincoln 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 | 24 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 27 | +12% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 34 | +27% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 39 | +12% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 39. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Denver
How common are truck crashes in Denver?
466 truck crashes have been reported in Lincoln County since 2015, with 21 deaths and 240 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Denver?
SR-16 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Denver since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Denver?
Truck crashes in Lincoln County peak in August, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Denver?
Garbage trucks were involved in 13 reported crashes in Lincoln County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Denver compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Lincoln County has 40.5 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Denver?
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.