Columbus, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Columbus and Colorado County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Colorado County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 885 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Colorado County compares with Texas
Colorado County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Colorado County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Colorado County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 343.7 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 5.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.0 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 66% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 25% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.1% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.0% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 34.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Colorado County sits below Texas on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
Colorado County at a glance: 1 in 270 crashes involve a garbage truck (3 since 2015), vs 1.1% across Texas.
Overview
Police reported 885 crashes involving commercial trucks in Colorado County since 2015: 542 people were injured and 51 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
With 43 truck crashes reported in Columbus since 2015, this page uses Colorado County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 11.5% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (6.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.0% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
1.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across Texas.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-10 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). Next come SR-71 (4) and US-90 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 0.3%, compared with 1.1% in Texas.
Route planning tips for Columbus fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-10; 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 Colorado County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 13 |
| SR-71 | 4 |
| US-90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Colorado County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 105 |
| Sh 71 | 9 |
| Ua 90 | 7 |
| SR-71 | 4 |
| E 700 Ih 10 Hwy | 3 |
| Ih 10 Hwy | 3 |
| Sh 71 Hwy | 3 |
| Walnut St | 3 |
Columbus at a glance
| Population | 3,938 |
| Land area | 3.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,310 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 78934) | $58,302 |
| Median home value (ZIP 78934) | $262,096 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Colorado 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 | 34 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 48 | +41% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 66 | +38% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 78 | +18% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 34 a year in the 1990s and 78 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbus
How common are truck crashes in Columbus?
Since 2015, 885 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Colorado County (542 injured, 51 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Columbus?
I-10 had 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Columbus since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Columbus?
Truck crashes in Colorado County peak in March, with 11.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Columbus?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Colorado County since 2015 (0.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Columbus compare with Texas?
Colorado County records 343.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Columbus?
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.