Big Sandy, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Big Sandy: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Big Sandy and McDowell County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McDowell County numbers.
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 |
McDowell County sits below West Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in McDowell County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 1.1% across West Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 72 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in McDowell County. They injured 31 people and killed 4.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 59 days.
Big Sandy had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use McDowell County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 2.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 41.7% across West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (12.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.9% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Big Sandy since 2015: US-52 (2), SR-80 (1) and SR-97 (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 Big Sandy 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
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 McDowell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-52 | 2 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
| SR-97 | 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 |
Big Sandy at a glance
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
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 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Big Sandy
How common are truck crashes in Big Sandy?
McDowell County has had 72 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 31 people and killing 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Big Sandy?
January has the most truck crashes in McDowell County, 11.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Big Sandy?
Since 2015, McDowell County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Big Sandy compare with West Virginia?
McDowell County records 36.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Big Sandy?
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.