Sparks, NV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sparks: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sparks and Washoe County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washoe County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washoe County compares with Nevada
Washoe County against Nevada and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washoe County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washoe County | Nevada | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 21.9 | 21.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 5.7 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.5% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.2% | 9.0% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 42.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.8% | 32.2% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Washoe County has lower values than Nevada for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Sparks: 2.1× fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Sparks per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (4.2 vs 2.0).
Overview
Police reported 1,343 crashes involving commercial trucks in Washoe County since 2015: 591 people were injured and 40 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
With 110 truck crashes reported in Sparks since 2015, this page uses Washoe County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
63% of truck crash reports in Washoe County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.3% of truck crashes, against 42.4% across Nevada.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
10.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.6% across Nevada.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). It is followed by E 4th St (2), I-580 (2) and US-395 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
28 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Nevada: 2.2%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Sparks fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 24.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Nevada.
- 10.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Nevada; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Washoe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 10 |
| E 4th St | 2 |
| I-580 | 2 |
| US-395 | 2 |
| Box Canyon Dr | 1 |
| E 5th St | 1 |
| E Greg St | 1 |
| Glendale Ave | 1 |
| I-580N | 1 |
| I-80W | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washoe County) |
|---|---|
| R2 - I80/Keystone | 16 |
| R2 - I80/Rock | 15 |
| R2 - I80/Sr445 | 15 |
| R2 - I80/Vista | 15 |
| R2 - Ir80/16Mm | 15 |
| R2 - Us395/26Mm | 14 |
| R2 - I80/17Mm | 14 |
| R2 - I80/5Mm | 13 |
Sparks at a glance
| Population | 111,520 |
| Land area | 36.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3,056 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washoe 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 | 50 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 64 | +27% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 83 | +31% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 120 | +44% | 4.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 50 a year in the 1990s and 120 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sparks
How many truck crashes happen in Sparks?
Since 2015, 1,343 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washoe County (591 injured, 40 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Sparks?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Sparks since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Sparks?
August has the most truck crashes in Washoe County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sparks?
28 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washoe County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Sparks compare with Nevada?
The yearly rate is 21.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washoe County, vs 21.8 for Nevada.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Sparks?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.