ZIP 16145 (Sandy Lake, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 16145: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mercer County, 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with Pennsylvania
Mercer County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 88.3 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 2.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.9% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.4% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Mercer County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Pennsylvania on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Mercer County: 26.5% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,176 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mercer County. They injured 547 people and killed 29.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.1% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (6.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 16145 since 2015: US-19 (2), I-79 (1) and SR-0173 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 41 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (20%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 16145 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 26.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Pennsylvania), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-19 | 2 |
| I-79 | 1 |
| SR-0173 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-0080 | 581 |
| I-0079 | 90 |
| SR-0018 | 52 |
| Z H Confair Hw | 50 |
| SR-0019 | 36 |
| SR-0058 | 33 |
| SR-0062 | 31 |
| SR-0173 | 23 |
ZIP 16145 at a glance
| Population | 2,660 |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,321 |
| Median home value | $179,139 |
| Home ownership | 81% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | 87 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 88 | +1% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 80 | -9% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 93 | +16% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 87 to 93. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 16145
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 16145?
Since 2015, 1,176 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mercer County (547 injured, 29 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 16145?
The worst month is January: 15.1% of truck crashes in Mercer County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 16145?
Garbage trucks were involved in 41 reported crashes in Mercer County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 16145 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 88.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Mercer County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 16145?
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.