Merna, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merna: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merna and Custer County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Custer County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 141 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Custer County compares with Nebraska
Custer County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Custer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Custer County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 113.6 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 58% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 13.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 42% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.7% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 33% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.1% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 25% below the state |
| After dark | 26.7% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Custer County has lower values than Nebraska for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
What stands out in Custer County: October worst month: 17.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 141 crashes involving commercial trucks in Custer County since 2015: 67 people were injured and 7 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 31 days in fully reported years.
Merna had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Custer County numbers.
72% of truck crash reports in Custer County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 17.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 2.8%.
November through March accounts for 32.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (9.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
SR-92 leads within 10 miles of Merna with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-2 (1) and SR-21 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.7%, compared with 1.8% in Nebraska.
Route planning tips for Merna fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Custer County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-92, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Custer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-92 | 3 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-21 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Custer County) |
|---|---|
| US-183 | 8 |
| SR-2 | 4 |
| SR-92 | 4 |
| Ne-2 | 3 |
| Ne-92 | 3 |
| South E St | 3 |
| South E Street | 3 |
| 002 /250.950/N2 Se Of Rifle Creek Rd-Nw Of Ansel | 2 |
Merna at a glance
| Population | 343 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 640 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 68856) | $73,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 68856) | $181,564 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Custer 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 | 7 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 7 | -3% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 10 | +46% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 13 | +22% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merna
How common are truck crashes in Merna?
141 truck crashes have been reported in Custer County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 67 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Merna?
SR-92 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Merna since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Merna?
Truck crashes in Custer County peak in October, with 17.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Merna?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Custer County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Merna compared with Nebraska?
Per 100,000 residents, Custer County has 113.6 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Merna?
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.