Golden, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Golden: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Golden and Sandoval County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Sandoval County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 242 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Sandoval County compares with New Mexico
Sandoval County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sandoval County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sandoval County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 12.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 72% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.2 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.56 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 6.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 32.3% | 30.2% | 24.8% | same |
Sandoval County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Sandoval County: 1 in 37 crashes involve a garbage truck (6 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Sandoval County has recorded 242 truck crashes since 2015, with 126 people injured and 17 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 18 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Golden since 2015, this page uses Sandoval County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.0% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.4% of truck crashes, compared with 12.1% in New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of Golden since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Golden fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 25.1% 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 Sandoval County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sandoval County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 57 |
| I-25 | 15 |
| SR-550 | 5 |
| Nm 528 | 4 |
| State Road 528 | 3 |
| Us Highway 550 & Ts Jicarilla Rd | 3 |
| W Us 550 | 3 |
| Abrazo Rd | 2 |
Golden at a glance
| Land area | 6.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 87047) | $116,630 |
| Median home value (ZIP 87047) | $408,731 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sandoval 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 | 4 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 10 | +163% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +79% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 19 | +5% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 19. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Golden
How many truck crashes happen in Golden?
242 truck crashes have been reported in Sandoval County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 126 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Golden?
September has the most truck crashes in Sandoval County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Golden?
Since 2015, Sandoval County has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Golden compare with New Mexico?
Sandoval County records 12.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 45.6 across New Mexico.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Golden?
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.