West Columbia, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Columbia: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 315 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How West Columbia compares with South Carolina
West Columbia against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where West Columbia stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | West Columbia | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 153.0 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 2.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 10% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.3% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.7% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.6% | 21.5% | 24.8% | same |
West Columbia has lower values than South Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for West Columbia: 0.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.4% in South Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 315 crashes involving commercial trucks in West Columbia since 2015: 194 people were injured and 7 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 13 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (12.1% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.7% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across South Carolina.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.4% across South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-20 leads within 10 miles of West Columbia with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-26 (7), SR-48 (5) and I-77 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 6 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.1% in South Carolina.
Route planning tips for West Columbia fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in West Columbia
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 8 |
| I-26 | 7 |
| SR-48 | 5 |
| I-77 | 4 |
| US-1 | 4 |
| SR-602 | 3 |
| SR-72 | 3 |
| US-21 | 3 |
| US-321 | 3 |
| SR-302 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (West Columbia) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 103 |
| I-20 | 16 |
| Leaphart Rd | 5 |
| Bush River Rd | 3 |
| Charleston Hwy | 3 |
| I-77 | 3 |
| Edmund Hwy | 2 |
| Augusta Rd | 2 |
West Columbia at a glance
| Population | 18,418 |
| Land area | 9.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,956 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 29169) | $57,122 |
| Median home value (ZIP 29169) | $207,509 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in West Columbia 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 | — | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | — | — | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 16 | — | 4.8 |
| 2020s | 33 | +103% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 16 a year in the 2010s and 33 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 7.2 a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Columbia
How common are truck crashes in West Columbia?
Since 2015, 315 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in West Columbia (194 injured, 7 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in West Columbia?
NHTSA data shows I-20 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Columbia since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in West Columbia?
The worst month is October: 12.1% of truck crashes in West Columbia happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in West Columbia?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in West Columbia since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in West Columbia compare with South Carolina?
West Columbia records 153.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.6 across South Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in West Columbia?
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.