ZIP 24712 (Athens, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 24712: 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
7 of 570 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with West Virginia
Mercer County against West Virginia 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 | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.0 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.5% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 29% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.2% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Mercer County sits below West Virginia on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for ZIP 24712: I-77 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 24712: 10 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 570 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mercer County. They injured 286 people and killed 22.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 39.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.7% in West Virginia.
The busiest hour is 4–5 pm, with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.7% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-77 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). It is followed by SR-20 (1) and US-19 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.2% of the total, against 1.1% across West Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 24712 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-77, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 24.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above West Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 10 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
| US-19 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 33 |
| I-77 Mp 21 | 18 |
| I-77 Mp 7 | 15 |
| I-77 Mp 12 | 12 |
| I-77 Mp 16.50 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 18 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 23 | 10 |
| I-77 Mp 8 | 10 |
ZIP 24712 at a glance
| Population | 2,913 |
| Density | 95 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $80,625 |
| Median home value | $213,832 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
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 | 13 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 41 | +212% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 42 | +1% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 53 | +27% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 13 a year in the 1990s and 53 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 24712
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 24712?
570 truck crashes have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, with 22 deaths and 286 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 24712?
NHTSA data shows I-77 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 24712 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 24712?
Truck crashes in Mercer County peak in October, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 24712?
Since 2015, Mercer County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 24712 compared with West Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Mercer County has 83.0 truck crashes a year; West Virginia has 57.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 24712?
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.