Continental Divide, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Continental Divide: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Continental Divide 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 runs above New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 17 truck crashes reported in Continental Divide 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
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.1% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Continental Divide 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.
- 30.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above New Mexico; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 | 5 |
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 |
Continental Divide at a glance
| Land area | 2.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87312) | $48,977 |
| Median home value (ZIP 87312) | $58,447 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Continental Divide
How common are truck crashes in Continental Divide?
McKinley County has had 1,097 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 495 people and killing 91.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Continental Divide?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Continental Divide: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Continental Divide?
January has the most truck crashes in McKinley County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Continental Divide?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in McKinley County since 2015 (0.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Continental Divide compare with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 138.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in McKinley County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Continental Divide?
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.