McKinley County, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in McKinley 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
1 of 1,097 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McKinley County compares with New Mexico
McKinley County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McKinley County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McKinley County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 138.7 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 3.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.6 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 78% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.7% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 2.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.7% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.1% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 2.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.8% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 38.1% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
McKinley County sits below New Mexico on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in McKinley County: 30.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 12.1% across New Mexico.
Overview
McKinley County has recorded 1,097 truck crashes since 2015, with 495 people injured and 91 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in August (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 53.8% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 30.7% of truck crashes, compared with 12.1% in New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (40). It is followed by US-491 (2), Bia-49 (1) and SR-118 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.1% share (New Mexico: 0.4%).
Route planning tips for McKinley County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 30.7% of truck crashes here, more than New Mexico; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 McKinley County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in McKinley County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 40 |
| US-491 | 2 |
| Bia-49 | 1 |
| SR-118 | 1 |
| SR-371 | 1 |
| SR-400 | 1 |
| SR-491 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McKinley County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 339 |
| US-491 | 12 |
| W Historic Hwy 66 | 10 |
| I40 Wb Off Ramp | 8 |
| E Interstate 40 | 8 |
| Interstate 40, Mm 11.5 | 6 |
| Interstate 40 Mm 8 | 6 |
| Interstate 40 Mm 11 | 5 |
McKinley County at a glance
| Population | 68,945 |
| Land area | 5,451.1 sq mi |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $48,245 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McKinley 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 | 16 | — | 3.8 |
| 2000s | 26 | +65% | 5.7 |
| 2010s | 68 | +158% | 3.6 |
| 2020s | 104 | +54% | 6.2 |
In the 1990s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 104. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in McKinley County
ZIP codes in McKinley County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about McKinley County
How many truck accidents are there in McKinley County?
1,097 truck crashes have been reported in McKinley County since 2015, with 91 deaths and 495 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in McKinley County?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in McKinley County: 40.
Which month has the most truck crashes in McKinley County?
The worst month is January: 12.9% of truck crashes in McKinley County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in McKinley County?
Since 2015, McKinley County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in McKinley County compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, McKinley County has 138.7 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in McKinley County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.