Parkersburg, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Parkersburg: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Parkersburg and Wood County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wood County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 346 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wood County compares with West Virginia
Wood County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wood County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wood County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.6 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.6% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.8% | 24.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.9% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Wood County sits below West Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Wood County: 1 in 35 crashes involve a garbage truck (10 since 2015), vs 1.1% across West Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 346 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wood County since 2015: 156 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 13 days.
With 175 truck crashes reported in Parkersburg since 2015, this page uses Wood County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 43.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.7% in West Virginia.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (West Virginia: 8.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-50 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: I-77 (4), SR-7 (4) and SR-14 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 1.1% across West Virginia.
Route planning tips for Parkersburg fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wood County.
- Look at alternatives to US-50 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 26.7% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than West Virginia.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 15.6% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Wood County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-50 | 5 |
| I-77 | 4 |
| SR-7 | 4 |
| SR-14 | 2 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
| SR-47 | 1 |
| SR-68 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wood County) |
|---|---|
| I-77 Mp 176 | 5 |
| I-77 - Mp 183 | 4 |
| I-77 Mp 181.60 | 4 |
| I-77 Mp 186 | 4 |
| I-77 Bridge To Marietta Ohio | 3 |
| I-77 Mp 158 | 3 |
| I-77 Mp 167 | 3 |
| I-77 Mp 179 | 3 |
Parkersburg at a glance
| Population | 28,834 |
| Land area | 11.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,447 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wood 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 | 9 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 29 | +219% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 32 | +10% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 26 | -20% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 9 a year in the 1990s and 26 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Parkersburg
How many truck crashes happen in Parkersburg?
Since 2015, 346 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wood County (156 injured, 16 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Parkersburg?
Since 2015, US-50 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Parkersburg: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Parkersburg?
Truck crashes in Wood County peak in January, with 11.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Parkersburg?
Since 2015, Wood County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Parkersburg compare with West Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Wood County has 34.6 truck crashes a year; West Virginia has 57.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Parkersburg?
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.