McDowell County, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in McDowell County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 72 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McDowell County compares with West Virginia
McDowell County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McDowell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McDowell County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.1 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 37% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.9% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 63% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.1% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.1% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 41.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.6% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 34% below the state |
Compared with West Virginia, McDowell County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
McDowell County at a glance: 0 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.0%, against 1.1% for West Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 72 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in McDowell County. They injured 31 people and killed 4.
That averages about one truck crash every 59 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.1% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (2.8%).
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.7% in West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (12.5%).
2.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 8.1% across West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in McDowell County since 2015: US-52 (2), SR-16 (1) and SR-80 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McDowell County since 2015.
Route planning tips for McDowell County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in McDowell County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 McDowell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in McDowell County) |
|---|---|
| US-52 | 2 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McDowell County) |
|---|---|
| SR-52 | 8 |
| SR-16 | 5 |
| Us Rt 052 | 4 |
| Wv Rt 16 | 3 |
| County Rt 13/00 | 2 |
| SR-103 | 2 |
| SR-161 | 2 |
| SR-80 | 2 |
McDowell County at a glance
| Population | 17,147 |
| Land area | 533.5 sq mi |
| Density | 32 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $32,289 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McDowell 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 | 0 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 13 | +2480% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 8 | -36% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 6 | -28% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 13 a year in the 2000s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in McDowell County
ZIP codes in McDowell County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about McDowell County
How many truck accidents are there in McDowell County?
72 truck crashes have been reported in McDowell County since 2015, with 4 deaths and 31 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in McDowell County?
Truck crashes in McDowell County peak in January, with 11.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in McDowell County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McDowell County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in McDowell County compare with West Virginia?
McDowell County records 36.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in McDowell County?
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.