Bethlehem, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bethlehem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bethlehem and Ohio County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ohio County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 700 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ohio County compares with West Virginia
Ohio County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ohio County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ohio County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 146.2 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 2.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.4% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.4% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 26% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.9% | 24.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.7% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with West Virginia, Ohio County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above West Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Ohio County: +99% reported truck crashes a year in the 2010s vs the 2000s (55 vs 28).
Overview
Police reported 700 crashes involving commercial trucks in Ohio County since 2015: 316 people were injured and 22 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
With 57 truck crashes reported in Bethlehem since 2015, this page uses Ohio County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 5.4%.
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.7% in West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.4% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Bethlehem is I-70, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-470 (3), US-250 (3) and US-40 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 1.1% across West Virginia.
Route planning tips for Bethlehem fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-70; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 10.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above West 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 Ohio County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 8 |
| I-470 | 3 |
| US-250 | 3 |
| US-40 | 2 |
| 9th St | 1 |
| CR-41/2 Cabela Dr | 1 |
| SR-7 | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ohio County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 33 |
| I-70 Mp 5 | 22 |
| I-470 | 16 |
| I-70 Mp 7 | 15 |
| I-470 Mp 1 | 13 |
| I-70 Mp 7.50 | 12 |
| I-70 Mp 11 | 11 |
| SR-470 | 11 |
Bethlehem at a glance
| Population | 2,563 |
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Density | 726 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 26003) | $57,703 |
| Median home value (ZIP 26003) | $165,634 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ohio 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 | 6 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 28 | +336% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 55 | +99% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 55 | +0% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 55. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bethlehem
How many truck crashes happen in Bethlehem?
Ohio County has had 700 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 316 people and killing 22.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bethlehem?
Since 2015, I-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethlehem: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bethlehem?
Truck crashes in Ohio County peak in October, with 10.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bethlehem?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ohio County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Bethlehem compare with West Virginia for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Ohio County has 146.2 truck crashes a year; West Virginia has 57.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bethlehem?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.