Catalpa Canyon, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Catalpa Canyon: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Catalpa Canyon 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 |
McKinley County sits below New Mexico on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for 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% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Overview
Police reported 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks in McKinley County since 2015: 495 people were injured and 91 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Catalpa Canyon since 2015, this page uses McKinley County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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
January has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 53.8% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
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 Catalpa Canyon is I-40, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come 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 Catalpa Canyon fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 14 |
| SR-118 | 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 |
Catalpa Canyon at a glance
| Land area | 7.0 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87301) | $58,772 |
| Median home value (ZIP 87301) | $151,226 |
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 Catalpa Canyon
How many truck accidents are there in Catalpa Canyon?
1,097 truck crashes have been reported in McKinley County since 2015, with 91 deaths and 495 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Catalpa Canyon?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 14 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Catalpa Canyon since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Catalpa Canyon?
January has the most truck crashes in McKinley County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Catalpa Canyon?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in McKinley County since 2015 (0.1% of truck crashes).
How does Catalpa Canyon compare with New Mexico for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, McKinley County has 138.7 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Catalpa Canyon?
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.