ZIP 19709 (Middletown, DE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19709: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in New Castle 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How New Castle County compares with Delaware
New Castle County against Delaware and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where New Castle County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | New Castle County | Delaware | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.0 | 53.2 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.52 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 3.7% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 2.2% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 25.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 12.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 39.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.5% | 22.7% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
New Castle County sits below Delaware on deaths per 100 crashes. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in New Castle County: +35% reported truck crashes a year in the 2010s vs the 2000s (299 vs 222).
Overview
New Castle County has recorded 4,020 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,975 people injured and 87 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 39.9% for Delaware.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
2.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.2% across Delaware.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 19709 since 2015: SR-1 (6), US-13 (6), US-301 (4), US-40 (3) and SR-15 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 142 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 3.7% across Delaware.
Their busiest month is January, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.5 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 19709 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in New Castle County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 New Castle County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 6 |
| US-13 | 6 |
| US-301 | 4 |
| US-40 | 3 |
| SR-15 | 2 |
| SR-213 | 2 |
| SR-896 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (New Castle County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 John F Kennedy Mem Hwy | 487 |
| I-495 Vietnam Vets Mem Hwy | 222 |
| Sr1 Korean War Vets Mem Hwy | 142 |
| I-95 | 85 |
| I-295 | 56 |
| Us13 Dupont Pkwy | 55 |
| Summit Bridge Rd | 53 |
| I-295 John F Kennedy Mem Hwy | 53 |
ZIP 19709 at a glance
| Population | 53,234 |
| Density | 265 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $132,956 |
| Median home value | $472,449 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in New Castle 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 | 308 | — | 7.9 |
| 2000s | 222 | -28% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 299 | +35% | 5.1 |
| 2020s | 354 | +19% | 6.8 |
In the 1990s about 308 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 354. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 5.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 19709
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 19709?
4,020 truck crashes have been reported in New Castle County since 2015, with 87 deaths and 1,975 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 19709?
The worst month is May: 9.2% of truck crashes in New Castle County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 19709?
Garbage trucks were involved in 142 reported crashes in New Castle County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 19709 compare with Delaware?
Per 100,000 residents, New Castle County has 59.0 truck crashes a year; Delaware has 53.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 19709?
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.