ZIP 16442 (Wattsburg, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 16442: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Erie 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Erie County compares with Pennsylvania
Erie County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Erie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Erie County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.4 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 17% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 46% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.2% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 3.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.4% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Erie County sits below Pennsylvania on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Erie County: 33.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,491 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Erie County. They injured 690 people and killed 19.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 19.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.7%).
November through March accounts for 54.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 33.2% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 16442 happened on I-90 (2), SR-8 (1) and US-6 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is January, with 20% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 16442 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Erie County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 33.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Pennsylvania), plan winter equipment 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 Erie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-8 | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Erie County) |
|---|---|
| I-0090 | 660 |
| SR-0020 | 81 |
| I-0079 | 73 |
| SR-0005 | 71 |
| SR-0197 | 38 |
| SR-0006 | 32 |
| SR-0019 | 31 |
| SR-0008 | 30 |
ZIP 16442 at a glance
| Population | 3,050 |
| Density | 23 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,571 |
| Median home value | $194,468 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Erie 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 | 125 | — | 4.3 |
| 2000s | 137 | +9% | 3.3 |
| 2010s | 105 | -24% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 124 | +18% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 125 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 124. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 16442
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 16442?
Since 2015, 1,491 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Erie County (690 injured, 19 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 16442?
The worst month is January: 19.7% of truck crashes in Erie County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 16442?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Erie County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 16442 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Erie County has 47.4 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 16442?
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.