Terra Alta, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Terra Alta: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Terra Alta and Preston County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Preston County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 227 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Preston County compares with West Virginia
Preston County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Preston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Preston County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 57.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 54% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.1% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 3.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.5% | 20.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.1% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.0% | 41.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.8% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Preston County has lower values than West Virginia for deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Preston County: 25.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 8.1% in West Virginia.
Overview
Preston County has recorded 227 truck crashes since 2015, with 94 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Terra Alta since 2015, this page uses Preston County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 12.8% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 47.0% of truck crashes, against 41.7% across West Virginia.
The busiest hour is 4–5 am, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (West Virginia: 8.1%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Terra Alta happened on US-219 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.9% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Terra Alta fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 25.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above West Virginia), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Preston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-219 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Preston County) |
|---|---|
| I-68 | 11 |
| I-68 Mp 19 | 7 |
| I-68 - Mp 19 | 6 |
| I-68 - Mp 23 | 6 |
| Us Rt 50 | 5 |
| I-68 Mp 16 | 4 |
| I-68 Mp 22 | 4 |
| I-68 Mp 30 | 4 |
Terra Alta at a glance
| Population | 1,413 |
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,192 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 26764) | $61,010 |
| Median home value (ZIP 26764) | $137,104 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Preston 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 | 2 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 20 | +744% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 20 | +2% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 17 | -13% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 17 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Terra Alta
How many truck crashes happen in Terra Alta?
Preston County has had 227 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 94 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Terra Alta?
Truck crashes in Preston County peak in March, with 12.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Terra Alta?
Since 2015, Preston County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Terra Alta compare with West Virginia for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Preston County, vs 57.6 for West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Terra Alta?
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.