Deschutes County, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Deschutes County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 661 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Deschutes County compares with Oregon
Deschutes County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Deschutes County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Deschutes County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.6 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.1 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.0% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.2% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.3% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 22.2% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Compared with Oregon, Deschutes County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Deschutes County: 23.0% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 13.3% across Oregon.
Overview
Police reported 661 crashes involving commercial trucks in Deschutes County since 2015: 197 people were injured and 39 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 12.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.3% of truck crashes, against 45.1% across Oregon.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.0% of truck crashes, compared with 13.3% in Oregon.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-97 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (18). It is followed by US-20 (8), CR-27TH St (1) and CR-BURGESS Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 2.0% across Oregon.
Route planning tips for Deschutes County fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Deschutes County.
- Check whether your routes use US-97, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.2% of truck crashes here, more than Oregon; adjust start times where you can.
- With 23.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Oregon), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Deschutes County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Deschutes County) |
|---|---|
| US-97 | 18 |
| US-20 | 8 |
| CR-27TH St | 1 |
| CR-BURGESS Rd | 1 |
| CR-CLINE Falls Hwy | 1 |
| CR-HUNTINGTON Rd | 1 |
| CR-PERSHALL Way | 1 |
| CR-TUMALO Reservoir Rd | 1 |
| Knott Rd | 1 |
| Sw Highland Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Deschutes County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 20 & Hamby Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 20 & Ward Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & 61St St | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Finley Butte Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Rosland Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Suzanne Ln | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Sw Odem Medo Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Veterans Way | 3 |
Deschutes County at a glance
| Population | 211,535 |
| Land area | 3,017.6 sq mi |
| Density | 70 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $93,402 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Deschutes 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 | 42 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 39 | -6% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 42 | +6% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 63 | +51% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 42 a year in the 1990s and 63 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Deschutes County
ZIP codes in Deschutes County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Deschutes County
How many truck crashes happen in Deschutes County?
Since 2015, 661 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Deschutes County (197 injured, 39 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Deschutes County?
NHTSA data shows US-97 with 18 fatal large-truck crashes in Deschutes County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Deschutes County?
Truck crashes in Deschutes County peak in November, with 12.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Deschutes County?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Deschutes County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Deschutes County compare with Oregon?
Deschutes County records 26.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 41.0 across Oregon.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Deschutes County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.