McDowell County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in McDowell County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 622 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McDowell County compares with North Carolina
McDowell County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McDowell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McDowell County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 119.7 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 93% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
McDowell County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in McDowell County: 1 in 588 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.6% across North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 622 crashes involving commercial trucks in McDowell County since 2015: 288 people were injured and 13 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in August (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in McDowell County happened on SR-226 (3), US-221 (3), N Main St (1) and SR-80 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.3% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for McDowell County fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 2.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 McDowell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in McDowell County) |
|---|---|
| SR-226 | 3 |
| US-221 | 3 |
| N Main St | 1 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McDowell County) |
|---|---|
| North Main Street | 6 |
| Love'S Travel Store | 4 |
| Pilot Travel Center | 4 |
| Baldwin Avenue | 3 |
| Love'S Travel Stop | 3 |
| E Court St | 2 |
| Pilot Pva | 2 |
| Pilot Truck Stop | 2 |
McDowell County at a glance
| Population | 45,269 |
| Land area | 440.0 sq mi |
| Density | 103 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $57,175 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McDowell 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 | 35 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 43 | +24% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 51 | +18% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 50 | -2% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 35 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. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in McDowell County
ZIP codes in McDowell County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about McDowell County
How common are truck crashes in McDowell County?
McDowell County has had 622 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 288 people and killing 13.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in McDowell County?
June has the most truck crashes in McDowell County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in McDowell County?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McDowell County since 2015, 0.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in McDowell County compared with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 119.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in McDowell County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in McDowell County?
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.