Helena, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena and Newberry County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Newberry County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 679 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Newberry County compares with South Carolina
Newberry County against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Newberry County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Newberry County | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 154.7 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 2.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 21% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 58% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.5% | 11.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.2% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.2% | 21.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Newberry County sits below South Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
Newberry County at a glance: 0.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.4% in South Carolina.
Overview
Newberry County has recorded 679 truck crashes since 2015, with 417 people injured and 22 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Helena since 2015, this page uses Newberry County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (10.3% of the year) and are lowest in October (7.1%).
November through March accounts for 40.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in South Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.4% across South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-26 leads within 10 miles of Helena with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-34 (4), US-76 (2) and SR-121 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 0.9% of the total, against 2.1% across South Carolina.
Route planning tips for Helena fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-26; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.8% of truck crashes here, more than South Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Newberry County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 5 |
| SR-34 | 4 |
| US-76 | 2 |
| SR-121 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Newberry County) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 187 |
| US-76 | 15 |
| US-176 | 11 |
| Sc34 | 10 |
| Sc121 | 9 |
| Wilson Rd | 5 |
| Sc56 | 5 |
| Airport Rd | 4 |
Helena at a glance
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 29108) | $53,558 |
| Median home value (ZIP 29108) | $146,067 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Newberry 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 | 42 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 42 | +1% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 48 | +13% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 68 | +42% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 42 to 68. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena
How common are truck crashes in Helena?
Since 2015, 679 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Newberry County (417 injured, 22 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Helena?
I-26 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Helena since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Helena?
The worst month is April: 10.3% of truck crashes in Newberry County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Helena?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Newberry County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Helena compare with South Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Newberry County has 154.7 truck crashes a year; South Carolina has 61.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Helena?
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.