Eunice, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Eunice: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Eunice and Lea County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lea County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 1,199 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lea County compares with New Mexico
Lea County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lea County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lea County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 136.3 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 3.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.0 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 16% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.7% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 94% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 66% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 33.3% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lea County has lower values than New Mexico for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
Lea County at a glance: +413% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (21) to the 2010s (106).
Overview
Police reported 1,199 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lea County since 2015: 607 people were injured and 97 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 34 truck crashes reported in Eunice since 2015, this page uses Lea County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
36% of truck crash reports in Lea 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 11.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (9.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.7% of truck crashes, compared with 12.1% in New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Eunice is SR-176, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-18 (1), CR-21 Delaware Basin Rd (1) and SR-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.4% share (New Mexico: 0.4%).
Route planning tips for Eunice fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lea County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-176 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 28.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Mexico.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lea County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-176 | 2 |
| CR-18 | 1 |
| CR-21 Delaware Basin Rd | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| SR-248 | 1 |
| Weaver Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lea County) |
|---|---|
| Us 62/180 | 36 |
| SR-128 | 34 |
| W Nm Highway 128 | 21 |
| State Road 128 | 19 |
| State Road 18 | 18 |
| Nmsr 128 | 16 |
| SR-18 | 15 |
| Battle Axe Rd | 13 |
Eunice at a glance
| Population | 3,068 |
| Land area | 4.1 sq mi |
| Density | 751 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 88231) | $51,417 |
| Median home value (ZIP 88231) | $128,829 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lea 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 | 12 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 17 | +47% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 81 | +375% | 5.9 |
| 2020s | 95 | +16% | 6.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 a year in the 1990s and 95 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 7.8 a year in 2016–19, 6.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Eunice
How common are truck crashes in Eunice?
1,199 truck crashes have been reported in Lea County since 2015, with 97 deaths and 607 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Eunice?
NHTSA data shows SR-176 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Eunice since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Eunice?
October has the most truck crashes in Lea County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Eunice?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Lea County since 2015 (0.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Eunice compared with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 136.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lea County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Eunice?
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.