Cricket, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cricket: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cricket and Wilkes County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wilkes County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 431 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wilkes County compares with North Carolina
Wilkes County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wilkes County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wilkes County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Wilkes County sits below North Carolina on in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Cricket at a glance: US-421 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Cricket since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 431 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wilkes County. They injured 318 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Cricket since 2015, this page uses Wilkes County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.2% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Cricket is US-421, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-268 (1), Ssr-1372 (1) and Ssr-2462 Country Club Rd Ext (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Cricket fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Wilkes County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 3 |
| SR-268 | 1 |
| Ssr-1372 | 1 |
| Ssr-2462 Country Club Rd Ext | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wilkes County) |
|---|---|
| Call St | 2 |
| River St | 2 |
| US-421 | 2 |
| Wilkesboro Ave | 2 |
| 2Nd St | 1 |
| 6Th Street | 1 |
| Bojangles | 1 |
| Chatham Street | 1 |
Cricket at a glance
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28697) | $52,988 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28697) | $209,004 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wilkes 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 | 28 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 29 | +3% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 39 | +35% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | -13% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 28 a year in the 1990s and 34 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 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cricket
How common are truck crashes in Cricket?
Wilkes County has had 431 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 318 people and killing 12.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Cricket?
US-421 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Cricket since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Cricket?
Truck crashes in Wilkes County peak in January, with 11.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cricket?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Wilkes County since 2015, 3.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Cricket compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wilkes County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cricket?
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.