ZIP 25971 (Lerona, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 25971: 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for ZIP 25971: I-77 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 25971 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 570 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mercer County. They injured 286 people and killed 22.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.7% for West Virginia.
The busiest hour is 4–5 pm, with 7.2% of truck crashes.
5.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 8.1% across West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-77 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). Next come SR-20 (1), US-19 (1) and US-460 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 1.2%, compared with 1.1% in West Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 25971 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-77, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.8% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 9 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
| US-19 | 1 |
| US-460 | 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 25971 at a glance
| Population | 1,438 |
| Density | 30 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,439 |
| Median home value | $149,524 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 25971
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 25971?
Mercer County has had 570 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 286 people and killing 22.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 25971?
Since 2015, I-77 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 25971: 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 25971?
October has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 25971?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, 1.2% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 25971 compare with West Virginia for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 83.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Mercer County, vs 57.6 for West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 25971?
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.