Haystack, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Haystack: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Haystack 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 has lower values than New Mexico for 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.
McKinley County at a glance: 30.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 12.1% in New Mexico.
Overview
McKinley County has recorded 1,097 truck crashes since 2015, with 495 people injured and 91 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Haystack 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
The worst month is January with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 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.
30.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 12.1% across New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of Haystack with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-605 (1).
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 Haystack fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 11 |
| SR-605 | 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 |
Haystack at a glance
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87045) | $19,270 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 16 to 104. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 Haystack
How common are truck crashes in Haystack?
Since 2015, 1,097 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in McKinley County (495 injured, 91 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Haystack?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Haystack: 11.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Haystack?
Truck crashes in McKinley County peak in January, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Haystack?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McKinley County since 2015, 0.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Haystack compared 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 can I plan a safer truck route in Haystack?
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.