ZIP 26374 (Independence, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 26374: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Preston 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
2 of 227 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Preston County compares with West Virginia
Preston County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Preston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Preston County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 57.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 54% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.45 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.1% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 3.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.5% | 20.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.1% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.0% | 41.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.8% | 26.6% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with West Virginia, Preston County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above West Virginia on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Preston County: 25.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 8.1% in West Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 227 crashes involving commercial trucks in Preston County since 2015: 94 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 12.8% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.3%).
November through March accounts for 47.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.7% in West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.1% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 26374 since 2015: US-119 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 1.1% in West Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 26374 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 25.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above West Virginia), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Preston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-119 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Preston County) |
|---|---|
| I-68 | 11 |
| I-68 Mp 19 | 7 |
| I-68 - Mp 19 | 6 |
| I-68 - Mp 23 | 6 |
| Us Rt 50 | 5 |
| I-68 Mp 16 | 4 |
| I-68 Mp 22 | 4 |
| I-68 Mp 30 | 4 |
ZIP 26374 at a glance
| Population | 1,676 |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $57,321 |
| Median home value | $145,464 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Preston 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 | 2 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 20 | +744% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 20 | +2% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 17 | -13% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 17 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 26374
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 26374?
Since 2015, 227 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Preston County (94 injured, 4 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 26374?
Truck crashes in Preston County peak in March, with 12.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 26374?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Preston County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 26374 compared with West Virginia?
Preston County records 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 26374?
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.