La Grande, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in La Grande: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in La Grande and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 419 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with Oregon
Union County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 143.9 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 3.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 60% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.5% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 24.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 29.1% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.9% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 29.9% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Union County has lower values than Oregon for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Union County at a glance: 31.5% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.3% in Oregon.
Overview
Since 2015, 419 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Union County. They injured 118 people and killed 24.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
La Grande had 4 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Union County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 5.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.9% of truck crashes, against 45.1% across Oregon.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 31.5% of truck crashes, compared with 13.3% in Oregon.
Where crashes happen
I-84 leads within 10 miles of La Grande with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-203 (1), SR-230 (1) and SR-82 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.7% share (Oregon: 2.0%).
Route planning tips for La Grande fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-84 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 31.5% 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
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Crash reporting for 2018 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-84 | 4 |
| SR-203 | 1 |
| SR-230 | 1 |
| SR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-84 .03 W Hwy 244 On Ramp | 5 |
| I-84 1.12 E Oregon Trail Rd Exit | 5 |
| I-84 .56 W Hwy 244 Exit | 4 |
| I-84 2.12 E Oregon Trail Rd Exit | 4 |
| Hwy 203 & I-84 Wb Exit Ramp | 3 |
| I-84 .06 W Hwy 244 Exit | 3 |
| I-84 .12 E Heber Rd Exit | 3 |
| I-84 .13 W Odot Scales | 3 |
La Grande at a glance
| Population | 13,058 |
| Land area | 4.6 sq mi |
| Density | 2,840 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 97850) | $63,421 |
| Median home value (ZIP 97850) | $298,658 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 41 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 36 | -12% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 35 | -3% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 35 | +1% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 41 a year in the 1990s and 35 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about La Grande
How many truck accidents are there in La Grande?
Since 2015, 419 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (118 injured, 24 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in La Grande?
NHTSA data shows I-84 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of La Grande since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in La Grande?
December has the most truck crashes in Union County, 14.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in La Grande?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How does La Grande compare with Oregon for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 143.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Union County, vs 41.0 for Oregon.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in La Grande?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2018; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.