Santa Cruz, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Santa Cruz: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Santa Cruz and Santa Fe County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Santa Fe County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 277 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Santa Fe County compares with New Mexico
Santa Fe County against New Mexico and the US, 2016–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Santa Fe County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2016–2025) | Santa Fe County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 16.0 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 65% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 29% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.9% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 22.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.1% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 13% below the state |
| After dark | 21.8% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Santa Fe County has lower values than New Mexico for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Santa Fe County: 5.6 people killed per 100 truck crashes (New Mexico: 9.5).
Overview
Santa Fe County has recorded 277 truck crashes since 2015, with 114 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 14 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Santa Cruz since 2015, this page uses Santa Fe County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
22% of truck crash reports in Santa Fe County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 13.9% 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 Santa Cruz since 2015: SR-76 (1) and US-84 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.4%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Santa Cruz fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 13.9% of truck crashes here, more than New Mexico; schedule winter 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2015, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Santa Fe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-76 | 1 |
| US-84 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Santa Fe County) |
|---|---|
| I-25 | 34 |
| I-40 | 20 |
| Us 84/285 | 9 |
| US-84 | 6 |
| US-285 | 5 |
| Cerrillos Road | 4 |
| I 25 North Bd Fw | 4 |
| Airport Rd | 3 |
Santa Cruz at a glance
| Land area | 0.6 sq mi |
| Median home value (ZIP 87567) | $245,510 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Santa Fe 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 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 10 | -3% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 25 | +146% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | -19% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Santa Cruz
How many truck crashes happen in Santa Cruz?
Santa Fe County has had 277 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 114 people and killing 14.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Santa Cruz?
July has the most truck crashes in Santa Fe County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Santa Cruz?
Since 2015, Santa Fe County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Santa Cruz compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, Santa Fe County has 16.0 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Santa Cruz?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2015; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.