Marion, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Marion: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Marion and Smyth County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Smyth County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 514 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Smyth County compares with Virginia
Smyth County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Smyth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Smyth County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 149.1 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 92% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 14.2% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 37% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 37.9% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 2.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.4% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Smyth County sits below Virginia on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Smyth County at a glance: 37.9% share of truck crashes in rain, sleet or snow (Virginia: 14.8%).
Overview
Police reported 514 crashes involving commercial trucks in Smyth County since 2015: 202 people were injured and 20 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 14 truck crashes were reported in Marion since 2015; patterns below come from Smyth County as a whole.
82% of truck crash reports in Smyth County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.1% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (8.2%).
Road surface: 5.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Marion is I-81, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-11 (1) and US-11 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.4%, compared with 2.5% in Virginia.
Route planning tips for Marion fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Smyth County.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 5.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Virginia), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Smyth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 5 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| US-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Smyth County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 339 |
| Southbound Interstate 81 | 11 |
| SR-11 | 8 |
| I-81 North | 6 |
| I-81 South | 6 |
| Northbound Interstate 81 | 6 |
| SR-16 | 6 |
| SR-107 | 3 |
Marion at a glance
| Population | 5,602 |
| Land area | 4.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,169 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 24354) | $44,502 |
| Median home value (ZIP 24354) | $157,084 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Smyth 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 | 19 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 28 | +46% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 32 | +14% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 54 | +68% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 19 a year in the 1990s and 54 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Marion
How common are truck crashes in Marion?
514 truck crashes have been reported in Smyth County since 2015, with 20 deaths and 202 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Marion?
I-81 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Marion since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Marion?
May has the most truck crashes in Smyth County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Marion?
Since 2015, Smyth County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Marion compare with Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Smyth County has 149.1 truck crashes a year; Virginia has 51.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Marion?
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.