Central City, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Central City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Central City and Somerset County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Somerset County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
17 of 932 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Somerset County compares with Pennsylvania
Somerset County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Somerset County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Somerset County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 111.7 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.4% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.6% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Somerset County has lower values than Pennsylvania for garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Somerset County at a glance: 16.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.1% across Pennsylvania.
Overview
Somerset County has recorded 932 truck crashes since 2015, with 415 people injured and 31 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Central City since 2015; patterns below come from Somerset County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.1% of the year) and are lowest in July (6.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.7% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.4% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Central City is SR-56, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-76 (1) and US-30 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 17 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Route planning tips for Central City fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Somerset County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-56; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 16.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Somerset County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-56 | 3 |
| I-76 | 1 |
| US-30 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Somerset County) |
|---|---|
| I-6000 | 480 |
| SR-0031 | 65 |
| SR-0219 | 62 |
| SR-0160 | 46 |
| SR-0030 | 34 |
| SR-0056 | 30 |
| SR-0281 | 25 |
| SR-0601 | 17 |
Central City at a glance
| Population | 969 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,794 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 15924) | $52,240 |
| Median home value (ZIP 15924) | $67,519 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Somerset 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 | 67 | — | 2.3 |
| 2000s | 81 | +20% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 66 | -19% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 83 | +27% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 67 a year in the 1990s and 83 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 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Central City
How common are truck crashes in Central City?
Since 2015, 932 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Somerset County (415 injured, 31 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Central City?
SR-56 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Central City since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Central City?
January has the most truck crashes in Somerset County, 14.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Central City?
Since 2015, Somerset County has reported 17 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Central City compared with Pennsylvania?
Somerset County records 111.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Central City?
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.