ZIP 28605 (Blowing Rock, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28605: 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 runs above North Carolina on on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Watauga County: 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
The worst month is November with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.1% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.6% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
US-321 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28605 with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: E King St (1), SR-105 (1) and SR-194 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28605 fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Watauga County.
- Look at alternatives to US-321 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal 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.
- With 10.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), 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
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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2022 and 2024; rates and comparisons skip those years.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-321 | 2 |
| E King St | 1 |
| SR-105 | 1 |
| SR-194 | 1 |
| Ssr-1529 Blackberry Rd | 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 28605 at a glance
| Population | 3,883 |
| Density | 46 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $76,477 |
| Median home value | $529,661 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 21 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28605
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28605?
257 truck crashes have been reported in Watauga County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 119 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28605?
US-321 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28605 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28605?
November has the most truck crashes in Watauga County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28605?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Watauga County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28605 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 43.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Watauga County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28605?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
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.