Merrill, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merrill: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merrill and Klamath County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Klamath County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 975 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Klamath County compares with Oregon
Klamath County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Klamath County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Klamath County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.6 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.7% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 67% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 55.1% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 4.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.3% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 67.8% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 1.5× the state |
| After dark | 35.4% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Compared with Oregon, Klamath County is lower on garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Klamath County: 55.1% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 13.3% across Oregon.
Overview
Klamath County has recorded 975 truck crashes since 2015, with 345 people injured and 55 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 4 truck crashes reported in Merrill since 2015, this page uses Klamath County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 17.2% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (3.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 67.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.1% for Oregon.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 55.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Oregon: 13.3%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Merrill since 2015: SR-39 (2), SR-139 (1) and SR-161 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 0.7% of the total, against 2.0% across Oregon.
Route planning tips for Merrill fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 26.6% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Oregon.
- 55.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Oregon; 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 Klamath County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-39 | 2 |
| SR-139 | 1 |
| SR-161 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Klamath County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 97 & Hwy 138 | 11 |
| Hwy 97 & Silver Lake Rd | 7 |
| Hwy 97 .62 S Crystal Springs Rd | 7 |
| Hwy 97 .12 N Merritt Springs Rd | 6 |
| Hwy 97 .13 S Merritt Springs Rd | 6 |
| Hwy 97 .14 S Hackett Dr | 6 |
| Hwy 97 1.06 N Walker Springs Rd | 6 |
| Hwy 97 1.46 N Michael Rd | 6 |
Merrill at a glance
| Population | 868 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,812 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 97633) | $62,019 |
| Median home value (ZIP 97633) | $207,916 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Klamath 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 | 72 | — | 5.2 |
| 2000s | 66 | -8% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 66 | +0% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 94 | +41% | 4.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 72 to 94. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merrill
How many truck accidents are there in Merrill?
975 truck crashes have been reported in Klamath County since 2015, with 55 deaths and 345 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Merrill?
Truck crashes in Klamath County peak in January, with 17.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Merrill?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Klamath County since 2015 (0.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Merrill compare with Oregon?
The yearly rate is 117.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Klamath County, vs 41.0 for Oregon.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Merrill?
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.