ZIP 17820 (Catawissa, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 17820: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Columbia 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
13 of 466 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Columbia County compares with Pennsylvania
Columbia County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbia County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.7 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.47 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.2% | 9.1% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.8% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.3% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 25% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.0% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Columbia County has lower values than Pennsylvania for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
ZIP 17820 at a glance: I-80 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 17820.
Overview
Police reported 466 crashes involving commercial trucks in Columbia County since 2015: 179 people were injured and 14 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.7% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.2% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 17820 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-487 (2), SR-54 (1) and SR-901 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 2.8% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
Route planning tips for ZIP 17820 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Columbia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 3 |
| SR-487 | 2 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| SR-901 | 1 |
| US-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbia County) |
|---|---|
| I-0080 | 213 |
| SR-0011 | 56 |
| SR-0042 | 45 |
| SR-0487 | 22 |
| Z H Confair Memorial Hw | 13 |
| SR-0093 | 7 |
| SR-0044 | 6 |
| SR-0118 | 6 |
ZIP 17820 at a glance
| Population | 5,499 |
| Density | 24 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,685 |
| Median home value | $214,463 |
| Home ownership | 78% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbia 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 | 40 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 48 | +20% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 37 | -23% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 38 | +3% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 40 to 38. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 17820
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 17820?
Columbia County has had 466 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 179 people and killing 14.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 17820?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 17820: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 17820?
Truck crashes in Columbia County peak in October, with 10.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 17820?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Columbia County since 2015, 2.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 17820 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Columbia County has 58.7 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 17820?
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.