Reader, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Reader: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Reader and Wetzel County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wetzel County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 171 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wetzel County compares with West Virginia
Wetzel County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wetzel County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wetzel County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 105.0 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 69% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.1% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 39% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 33.3% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with West Virginia, Wetzel County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above West Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Wetzel County at a glance: 1 in 40 crashes involve a garbage truck (5 since 2015), vs 1.1% across West Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 171 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wetzel County since 2015: 65 people were injured and 5 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 25 days.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Reader since 2015, this page uses Wetzel County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 11.7% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.6% of truck crashes, against 41.7% across West Virginia.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (West Virginia: 8.1%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Reader is SR-7, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-78 Fallen Timber Rd (1), SR-18 (1) and SR-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 1.1% in West Virginia.
Route planning tips for Reader fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-7 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 23.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above West Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Wetzel County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-7 | 2 |
| CR-78 Fallen Timber Rd | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wetzel County) |
|---|---|
| Wv Rt 007 | 20 |
| Wv Rt 20 | 13 |
| SR-20 | 8 |
| Wv Rt 002 | 8 |
| SR-7 | 7 |
| SR-89 | 4 |
| Wv Rt 020 | 4 |
| 15 - 5.8 Miles Out Cr 15 From Wv Rt 20 | 3 |
Reader at a glance
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wetzel 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 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 5 | +227% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 11 | +129% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 16 | +46% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 16 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Reader
How common are truck crashes in Reader?
Since 2015, 171 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wetzel County (65 injured, 5 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Reader?
SR-7 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Reader since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Reader?
October has the most truck crashes in Wetzel County, 11.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Reader?
Since 2015, Wetzel County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Reader compared with West Virginia?
Wetzel County records 105.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Reader?
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.