Spruce Pine, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spruce Pine: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Spruce Pine and Mitchell County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mitchell County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 101 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mitchell County compares with North Carolina
Mitchell County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mitchell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mitchell County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 26% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 60% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.8% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Mitchell County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Mitchell County at a glance: 3.1% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Mitchell County has recorded 101 truck crashes since 2015, with 51 people injured and 2 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 41 days in fully reported years.
With 50 truck crashes reported in Spruce Pine since 2015, this page uses Mitchell County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 15.8% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.8% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (11.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.1% 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 Spruce Pine since 2015: SR-226 (1) and US-19 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.0% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Spruce Pine fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.6% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- With 3.1% 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
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 Mitchell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-226 | 1 |
| US-19 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mitchell County) |
|---|---|
| US-19E | 3 |
| Us 19Est | 2 |
| Ingles | 1 |
| Nc-226A | 1 |
| Oak Avenue | 1 |
| Quartz | 1 |
| Summit Ave | 1 |
| Tri-County Oil | 1 |
Spruce Pine at a glance
| Population | 2,192 |
| Land area | 4.1 sq mi |
| Density | 540 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28777) | $63,378 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28777) | $226,600 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mitchell 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 | 7 | +12% | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 5 | -29% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 12 | +124% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 12 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Spruce Pine
How common are truck crashes in Spruce Pine?
101 truck crashes have been reported in Mitchell County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 51 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Spruce Pine?
April has the most truck crashes in Mitchell County, 15.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Spruce Pine?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Mitchell County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Spruce Pine compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Mitchell County has 59.3 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Spruce Pine?
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.