Ward County, ND truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ward 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
3 of 308 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ward County compares with North Dakota
Ward County against North Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ward County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ward County | North Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.6 | 73.9 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.33 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.2% | 34.4% | 6.2% | 27% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.8% | 16.2% | 13.8% | 64% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.2% | 47.2% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 17.3% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Compared with North Dakota, Ward County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and 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 Ward County: August the month with the most truck crashes: 12.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Ward County has recorded 308 truck crashes since 2015, with 146 people injured and 16 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 13 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.2% of truck crashes, against 47.2% across North Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (10.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.2% of truck crashes, compared with 34.4% in North Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Ward County since 2015: US-2 (3), US-83 (3), SR-23 (2), US-52 (2) and CR-10 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 0.9% in North Dakota.
Route planning tips for Ward County fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.2% of truck crashes here, more than North Dakota; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2020, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Ward County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ward County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 3 |
| US-83 | 3 |
| SR-23 | 2 |
| US-52 | 2 |
| CR-10 | 1 |
| CR-37 Ave Sw Ward 14 | 1 |
| CR-54 Ave Sw | 1 |
| CR-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ward County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 7 |
| US-83 | 4 |
| 128Th Ave Nw | 3 |
| 13Th Ave Se | 3 |
| 27Th St Se | 2 |
| US-52 | 2 |
| - Rd | 1 |
| 100Th St Sw | 1 |
Ward County at a glance
| Population | 68,427 |
| Land area | 2,013.0 sq mi |
| Density | 34 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $77,876 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ward 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 | 14 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 8 | -42% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 33 | +308% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 27 | -17% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 27. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ward County
ZIP codes in Ward County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ward County
How many truck accidents are there in Ward County?
Ward County has had 308 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 146 people and killing 16.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Ward County?
The worst month is August: 12.7% of truck crashes in Ward County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ward County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Ward County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
How does Ward County compare with North Dakota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 40.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ward County, vs 73.9 for North Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ward County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.