ZIP 25853 (Helen, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 25853: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Raleigh 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
11 of 869 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Raleigh County compares with West Virginia
Raleigh County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Raleigh County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Raleigh County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 102.6 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.6% | 8.1% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.0% | 20.9% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.3% | 24.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.4% | 26.6% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with West Virginia, Raleigh County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
What stands out in ZIP 25853: I-77 7 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 25853.
Overview
Police reported 869 crashes involving commercial trucks in Raleigh County since 2015: 411 people were injured and 33 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 12.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.5% of truck crashes, vs 41.7% for West Virginia.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (West Virginia: 8.1%).
Where crashes happen
I-77 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 25853 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-16 (1) and SR-3 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 25853 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-77 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Raleigh County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 7 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Raleigh County) |
|---|---|
| I-77 Mp 48 | 31 |
| I-77 | 26 |
| I-77 Mp 30 | 24 |
| I-77 Mp 42 | 23 |
| I-77 Mp 44 | 20 |
| I-77 Mp 45 | 19 |
| I-64 | 19 |
| I-77 Mp 40 | 15 |
ZIP 25853 at a glance
| Population | 106 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Raleigh 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 | — | 2.3 |
| 2000s | 49 | +284% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 58 | +18% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 86 | +48% | 2.6 |
In the 1990s about 13 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 86. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 25853
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 25853?
869 truck crashes have been reported in Raleigh County since 2015, with 33 deaths and 411 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 25853?
NHTSA data shows I-77 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 25853 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 25853?
Truck crashes in Raleigh County peak in August, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 25853?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Raleigh County since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 25853 compare with West Virginia?
The yearly rate is 102.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Raleigh County, vs 57.6 for West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 25853?
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.