ZIP 26656 (Belva, WV) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 26656: 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 has lower values than West Virginia for garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above West Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Nicholas County: 1 in 185 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.5%, vs 1.1% in West Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 196 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Nicholas County. They injured 97 people and killed 10.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 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.
By time of day, 4–5 pm stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.9% of truck crashes, compared with 8.1% in West Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 26656 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-39 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 1.1% in West Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 26656 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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
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 Nicholas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-39 | 1 |
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 26656 at a glance
| Population | 414 |
| Density | 10 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,068 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 15. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 26656
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 26656?
Since 2015, 196 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Nicholas County (97 injured, 10 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 26656?
Truck crashes in Nicholas County peak in January, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 26656?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Nicholas County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 26656 compared with West Virginia?
Nicholas County records 69.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.6 across West Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 26656?
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.