Middletown, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Middletown: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Middletown and Northampton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Northampton County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Northampton County compares with Pennsylvania
Northampton County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Northampton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Northampton County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.5 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.9% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 46% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.9% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Northampton County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar).
Middletown at a glance: I-78 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Middletown since 2015.
Overview
Northampton County has recorded 2,134 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,038 people injured and 35 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Middletown since 2015; patterns below come from Northampton County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Middletown is I-78, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-33 (4), US-22 (4) and SR-145 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 75 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Middletown fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-78; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Northampton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-78 | 9 |
| SR-33 | 4 |
| US-22 | 4 |
| SR-145 | 2 |
| SR-378 | 2 |
| Mu-American Pkwy | 1 |
| SR-0033 | 1 |
| SR-0121 | 1 |
| SR-1002 | 1 |
| SR-146 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Northampton County) |
|---|---|
| I-0078 | 473 |
| SR-0033 | 216 |
| SR-0022 | 178 |
| SR-0512 | 167 |
| SR-0248 | 107 |
| SR-0191 | 49 |
| SR-0611 | 47 |
| SR-1002 | 41 |
Middletown at a glance
| Land area | 2.6 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 18020) | $126,166 |
| Median home value (ZIP 18020) | $371,388 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Northampton 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 | 97 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 116 | +20% | 3.4 |
| 2010s | 132 | +13% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 206 | +56% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 97 to 206. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Middletown
How many truck accidents are there in Middletown?
Since 2015, 2,134 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Northampton County (1,038 injured, 35 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Middletown?
NHTSA data shows I-78 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Middletown since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Middletown?
August has the most truck crashes in Northampton County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Middletown?
75 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Northampton County since 2015, 3.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Middletown compared with Pennsylvania?
Northampton County records 56.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Middletown?
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.