Washington, WV truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Washington 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 has lower values than West Virginia for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It runs above West Virginia on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Wood County: 1 in 35 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.9%, against 1.1% for 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.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in Washington since 2015; patterns below come from Wood County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.8% of truck crashes, against 41.7% across West Virginia.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.6% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Washington since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-7 (4), US-50 (4), I-77 (2), SR-14 (1) and SR-4 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Washington fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.7% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 15.6% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-7 | 4 |
| US-50 | 4 |
| I-77 | 2 |
| SR-14 | 1 |
| 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 |
Washington at a glance
| Land area | 4.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 26181) | $73,977 |
| Median home value (ZIP 26181) | $199,642 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 9 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 26. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Washington
How common are truck crashes in Washington?
Wood County has had 346 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 156 people and killing 16.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington?
Truck crashes in Wood County peak in January, with 11.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Washington?
Since 2015, Wood County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Washington compare with West Virginia?
The yearly rate is 34.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wood County, vs 57.6 for West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Washington?
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.