Hays, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hays: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hays 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 |
Compared with North Carolina, Wilkes County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Hays: US-421 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Hays.
Overview
Wilkes County has recorded 431 truck crashes since 2015, with 318 people injured and 12 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Hays since 2015, this page uses Wilkes County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.1% of the year) and are lowest in July (4.4%).
November through March accounts for 46.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-421 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come SR-268 (1), Ssr-1931 Greenhorn Rd (1) and Ssr-2324 Red White And Blue Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.5% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Hays fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-421, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- 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
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 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-1931 Greenhorn Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2324 Red White And Blue Rd | 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 |
Hays at a glance
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
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 |
In the 1990s about 28 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 34. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hays
How many truck crashes happen in Hays?
Since 2015, 431 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wilkes County (318 injured, 12 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Hays?
NHTSA data shows US-421 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Hays since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Hays?
The worst month is January: 11.1% of truck crashes in Wilkes County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Hays?
Since 2015, Wilkes County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Hays compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Wilkes County has 57.4 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Hays?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.