ZIP 23970 (South Hill, VA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 23970: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mecklenburg 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
7 of 415 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mecklenburg County compares with Virginia
Mecklenburg County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mecklenburg County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mecklenburg County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.8% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.1% | 22.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.1% | 24.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Virginia, Mecklenburg County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Mecklenburg County: 4.5 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Virginia: 2.6).
Overview
Police reported 415 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mecklenburg County since 2015: 200 people were injured and 19 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 6.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.5% of truck crashes, vs 39.8% for Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.2%).
Road surface: 2.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 23970 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-58 (3), SR-47 (2) and US-1 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 23970 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Mecklenburg County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 6 |
| US-58 | 3 |
| SR-47 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| CR-903 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mecklenburg County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 116 |
| SR-58 | 65 |
| SR-47 | 14 |
| Sb 85 | 10 |
| SR-92 | 7 |
| SR-1 | 7 |
| Northbound Interstate 85 | 7 |
| E Atlantic St | 7 |
ZIP 23970 at a glance
| Population | 8,109 |
| Density | 26 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $65,170 |
| Median home value | $201,139 |
| Home ownership | 59% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mecklenburg 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 | 23 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 23 | +1% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 28 | +21% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 41 | +47% | 2.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 23 to 41. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 23970
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 23970?
415 truck crashes have been reported in Mecklenburg County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 200 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 23970?
I-85 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 23970 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 23970?
The worst month is May: 11.1% of truck crashes in Mecklenburg County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 23970?
Since 2015, Mecklenburg County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.7% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 23970 compared with Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Mecklenburg County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Virginia has 51.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 23970?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.