Mercer County, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mercer 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
7 of 570 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with West Virginia
Mercer County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.0 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.5% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 29% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.2% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Mercer County sits below West Virginia on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Mercer County: I-77 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Mercer County.
Overview
Mercer County has recorded 570 truck crashes since 2015, with 286 people injured and 22 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.7% for West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (7.2%).
5.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 8.1% across West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-77 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). It is followed by SR-123 (1), SR-20 (1) and US-19 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.2% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Mercer County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mercer County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-77; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.8% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 9 |
| SR-123 | 1 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
| US-19 | 1 |
| US-460 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 33 |
| I-77 Mp 21 | 18 |
| I-77 Mp 7 | 15 |
| I-77 Mp 12 | 12 |
| I-77 Mp 16.50 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 18 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 23 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 8 | 10 |
Mercer County at a glance
| Population | 57,524 |
| Land area | 419.0 sq mi |
| Density | 137 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $54,035 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | 13 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 41 | +212% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 42 | +1% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 53 | +27% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 53. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Mercer County
ZIP codes in Mercer County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Mercer County
How common are truck crashes in Mercer County?
Since 2015, 570 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mercer County (286 injured, 22 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Mercer County?
NHTSA data shows I-77 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes in Mercer County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Mercer County?
The worst month is October: 10.2% of truck crashes in Mercer County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Mercer County?
Since 2015, Mercer County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mercer County compared with West Virginia?
Mercer County records 83.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Mercer County?
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.