Ritchie County, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ritchie 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
1 of 101 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ritchie County compares with West Virginia
Ritchie County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ritchie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ritchie County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 109.0 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 7% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.1% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.4% | 20.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.4% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 26% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 41.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 27.6% | 26.6% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with West Virginia, Ritchie County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Ritchie County: April 14.9% of truck crashes happen in April, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 101 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ritchie County. They injured 36 people and killed 7.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 41 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is April with 14.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 3.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.9% of truck crashes, against 41.7% across West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (14.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.1% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Ritchie County since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-16 (2) and US-50 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.0% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Ritchie County fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Ritchie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ritchie County) |
|---|---|
| SR-16 | 2 |
| US-50 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ritchie County) |
|---|---|
| SR-50 | 11 |
| Us Rt 50 | 7 |
| SR-16 | 5 |
| SR-74 | 5 |
| Wv Rt 074 | 3 |
| County Rt 9 | 2 |
| Rt 34 - Approx. 1 Mile From Us Rt 50 | 2 |
| Rt 50 - Bonds Creek Bridge | 2 |
Ritchie County at a glance
| Population | 8,170 |
| Land area | 452.0 sq mi |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $54,979 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ritchie 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 | 1 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | +230% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 9 | +107% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 6 | -38% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 1 truck crash a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ritchie County
ZIP codes in Ritchie County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ritchie County
How common are truck crashes in Ritchie County?
Since 2015, 101 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Ritchie County (36 injured, 7 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Ritchie County?
The worst month is April: 14.9% of truck crashes in Ritchie County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Ritchie County?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ritchie County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Ritchie County compared with West Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Ritchie County has 109.0 truck crashes a year; West Virginia has 57.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ritchie 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.