Bluewater, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bluewater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bluewater and McKinley County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McKinley County numbers.
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 |
Compared with New Mexico, McKinley County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: 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
Police reported 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks in McKinley County since 2015: 495 people were injured and 91 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Bluewater since 2015; patterns below come from McKinley County as a whole.
21% of truck crash reports in McKinley County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 30.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Bluewater is I-40, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.1% share (New Mexico: 0.4%).
Route planning tips for Bluewater fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 30.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Mexico), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 McKinley County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 7 |
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 |
Bluewater at a glance
| Land area | 12.3 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87323) | $51,616 |
| Median home value (ZIP 87323) | $122,241 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 16 a year in the 1990s and 104 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bluewater
How many truck accidents are there in Bluewater?
McKinley County has had 1,097 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 495 people and killing 91.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Bluewater?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bluewater since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Bluewater?
The worst month is January: 12.9% of truck crashes in McKinley County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bluewater?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McKinley County since 2015, 0.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Bluewater compare with New Mexico for truck crashes?
McKinley County records 138.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 45.6 across New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bluewater?
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.