La Plata, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in La Plata: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in La Plata and San Juan County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Juan County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 342 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How San Juan County compares with New Mexico
San Juan County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Juan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Juan County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.7 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 48% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.3 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 2.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.5% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.0% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.9% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 22.5% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
San Juan County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
San Juan County at a glance: 1 in 105 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.9%, against 0.4% for New Mexico.
Overview
Since 2015, 342 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in San Juan County. They injured 179 people and killed 25.
That averages about one truck crash every 13 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in La Plata since 2015, this page uses San Juan County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 6.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.6% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.8%).
Road surface: 9.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of La Plata since 2015: Mu- E Pinon Hills Blvd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for La Plata fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Juan County.
- Morning starts matter: 27.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Mexico.
- 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 San Juan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Mu- E Pinon Hills Blvd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Juan County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 46 |
| US-64 | 31 |
| US-491 | 15 |
| Road 7010 | 6 |
| Nm 371 | 5 |
| Bloomfield Hwy | 4 |
| Nm 516 | 4 |
| Cr 7010 | 3 |
La Plata at a glance
| Land area | 22.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87418) | $82,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 87418) | $235,866 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Juan 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 | 10 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 18 | +77% | 4.1 |
| 2010s | 29 | +58% | 3.9 |
| 2020s | 26 | -8% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 26. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about La Plata
How common are truck crashes in La Plata?
San Juan County has had 342 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 179 people and killing 25.
When do most truck crashes happen in La Plata?
The worst month is January: 11.1% of truck crashes in San Juan County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in La Plata?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in San Juan County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
How does La Plata compare with New Mexico for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, San Juan County has 23.7 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in La Plata?
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.