ZIP 26610 (Birch River, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 26610: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Nicholas 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 196 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Nicholas County compares with West Virginia
Nicholas County against West Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Nicholas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Nicholas County | West Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.6 | 57.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.9% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 20.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.0% | 24.8% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 41.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.3% | 26.6% | 24.8% | same |
Nicholas County sits below West Virginia on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Nicholas County at a glance: 1 in 185 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 1.1% across West Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 196 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Nicholas County. They injured 97 people and killed 10.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 22 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (5.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.7% for West Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (8.7%).
Road surface: 10.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (West Virginia: 8.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-19 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-20 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.0% share (West Virginia: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 26610 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-19; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 10.9% of truck crashes here, more than West Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Nicholas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-19 | 3 |
| SR-20 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Nicholas County) |
|---|---|
| Us Rt 019 | 19 |
| SR-19 | 16 |
| Us Rt 19 | 16 |
| SR-39 | 9 |
| Wv Rt 039 | 5 |
| SR-20 | 4 |
| Wv Rt 20 | 4 |
| County Rt 20 | 3 |
ZIP 26610 at a glance
| Population | 723 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $37,165 |
| Median home value | $89,356 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Nicholas 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 | 4 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 18 | +364% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 20 | +12% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 15 | -25% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 15 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 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 26610
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 26610?
Nicholas County has had 196 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 97 people and killing 10.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 26610?
Since 2015, US-19 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 26610: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 26610?
The worst month is January: 11.2% of truck crashes in Nicholas County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 26610?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Nicholas County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 26610 compared with West Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Nicholas County has 69.6 truck crashes a year; West Virginia has 57.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 26610?
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.