Rural Retreat, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rural Retreat: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rural Retreat and Wythe County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wythe County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 919 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wythe County compares with Virginia
Wythe County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wythe County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wythe County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 275.3 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 5.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 95% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.0% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 12.7% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 44% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.6% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 34.9% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Wythe County has lower values than Virginia for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Wythe County: 1 in 833 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.5% across Virginia.
Overview
Wythe County has recorded 919 truck crashes since 2015, with 447 people injured and 24 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Rural Retreat since 2015, this page uses Wythe County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
80% of truck crash reports in Wythe County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (10.8% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.6% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.0% of truck crashes, compared with 3.0% in Virginia.
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads within 10 miles of Rural Retreat with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-11 (1) and US-11 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.2% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Rural Retreat fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wythe County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.0% 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
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 Wythe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 7 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| US-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wythe County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 377 |
| I-77 | 136 |
| Nb 81 | 18 |
| Nb Interstate 81 | 13 |
| Sb 81 | 9 |
| I-77 South | 8 |
| I-81 South | 8 |
| Sb Interstate 81 | 8 |
Rural Retreat at a glance
| Population | 1,530 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 672 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 24368) | $73,614 |
| Median home value (ZIP 24368) | $167,225 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wythe 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 | 49 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 58 | +20% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 58 | -1% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 96 | +66% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 49 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 96. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rural Retreat
How many truck crashes happen in Rural Retreat?
Since 2015, 919 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wythe County (447 injured, 24 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Rural Retreat?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Rural Retreat: 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Rural Retreat?
The worst month is May: 10.8% of truck crashes in Wythe County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Rural Retreat?
Since 2015, Wythe County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Rural Retreat compare with Virginia?
Wythe County records 275.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Rural Retreat?
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.