Merlin, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merlin: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merlin and Josephine County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Josephine County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 517 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Josephine County compares with Oregon
Josephine County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Josephine County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Josephine County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.8 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 69% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.6% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 58% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.5% | 24.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.2% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 24.4% | 25.3% | 24.8% | same |
Josephine County has lower values than Oregon for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Josephine County: 1 in 161 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 2.0% across Oregon.
Overview
Since 2015, 517 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Josephine County. They injured 153 people and killed 14.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Merlin since 2015, this page uses Josephine County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (11.6% of the year) and are lowest in November (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 38.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.1% in Oregon.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Oregon: 13.3%).
Where crashes happen
US-199 leads within 10 miles of Merlin with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-DEMARAY Dr (1), CR-HIGHLAND Ave (1) and Foothill Blvd Frontage Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Oregon: 2.0%).
Route planning tips for Merlin fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Josephine County.
- Check whether your routes use US-199, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Josephine County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-199 | 3 |
| CR-DEMARAY Dr | 1 |
| CR-HIGHLAND Ave | 1 |
| Foothill Blvd Frontage Rd | 1 |
| I-5 | 1 |
| Redwood Ave | 1 |
| SR-99 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Josephine County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 .68 N Speaker Rd On Ramp | 6 |
| I-5 2.34 S Sunny Valley Lp On Ramp | 6 |
| I-5 .54 N Speaker Rd Exit | 5 |
| I-5 1.34 S Lariat Dr On Ramp | 5 |
| I-5 .36 S Sunny Valley Lp | 4 |
| I-5 1.17 S Merlin Rd Exit | 4 |
| I-5 1.36 S Sunny Valley Lp Exit | 4 |
| I-5 1.51 S Hwy 199 On Ramp | 4 |
Merlin at a glance
| Land area | 4.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 97526) | $61,019 |
| Median home value (ZIP 97526) | $396,166 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Josephine 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 | 20 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 27 | +37% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 34 | +24% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 46 | +37% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 20 to 46. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merlin
How many truck crashes happen in Merlin?
Josephine County has had 517 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 153 people and killing 14.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Merlin?
US-199 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Merlin since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Merlin?
Truck crashes in Josephine County peak in June, with 11.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Merlin?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Josephine County since 2015 (0.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Merlin compare with Oregon?
Per 100,000 residents, Josephine County has 49.8 truck crashes a year; Oregon has 41.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Merlin?
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.