ZIP 28604 (Banner Elk, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28604: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Watauga 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
5 of 257 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Watauga County compares with North Carolina
Watauga County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Watauga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Watauga County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.8 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 32% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 6.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 9.7% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 53% below the state |
Watauga County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Watauga County at a glance: 10.6% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 257 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Watauga County. They injured 119 people and killed 7.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 15 days.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (11.3%).
10.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28604 since 2015: SR-105 (1), SR-194 (1) and US-19E (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28604 fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.8% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- 10.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
Crash reporting for 2022 and 2024 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Watauga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-105 | 1 |
| SR-194 | 1 |
| US-19E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Watauga County) |
|---|---|
| Blowing Rock Rd | 16 |
| Hwy 105 Ext | 9 |
| E King St | 7 |
| Nc 105 | 3 |
| US-421 | 3 |
| W King St | 3 |
| Chestnut Dr | 2 |
| Reynolds Parkway | 2 |
ZIP 28604 at a glance
| Population | 7,869 |
| Density | 44 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $76,319 |
| Median home value | $381,135 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Watauga 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 | 21 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 23 | +13% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 24 | +4% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | -17% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28604
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28604?
257 truck crashes have been reported in Watauga County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 119 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28604?
November has the most truck crashes in Watauga County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28604?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Watauga County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 28604 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Watauga County has 43.8 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28604?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2022 and 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.