New River, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in New River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in New River and Pulaski County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pulaski County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 558 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pulaski County compares with Virginia
Pulaski County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pulaski County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pulaski County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 144.6 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 71% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.9% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 3.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.5% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 27% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.4% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 32.0% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Pulaski County sits below Virginia on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Pulaski County: 9.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 3.0% in Virginia.
Overview
Pulaski County has recorded 558 truck crashes since 2015, with 274 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in New River since 2015, this page uses Pulaski County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
89% of truck crash reports in Pulaski County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.9% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
9.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). After it: SR-100 (2), CR-643 (1) and SR-8 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 0.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for New River fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pulaski County.
- Check whether your routes use I-81, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.9% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Pulaski County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 6 |
| SR-100 | 2 |
| CR-643 | 1 |
| SR-8 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pulaski County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 259 |
| I-81 North | 29 |
| Nb I-81 | 24 |
| I-81 South | 23 |
| Sb I-81 | 23 |
| Cleburne Blvd | 19 |
| Northbound Interstate 81 | 14 |
| Southbound Interstate 81 | 8 |
New River at a glance
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pulaski 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 | 16 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 26 | +55% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 38 | +49% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 49 | +29% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 49. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about New River
How many truck crashes happen in New River?
558 truck crashes have been reported in Pulaski County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 274 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in New River?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of New River: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in New River?
The worst month is December: 11.8% of truck crashes in Pulaski County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in New River?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pulaski County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in New River compare with Virginia?
Pulaski County records 144.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in New River?
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.