ZIP 28653 (Montezuma, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28653: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Avery 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
1 of 116 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Avery County compares with North Carolina
Avery County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Avery County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Avery County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.1 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 8% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 64% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.0% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 5.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 13.6% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 33% below the state |
Avery County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
Avery County at a glance: 10.0% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Avery County has recorded 116 truck crashes since 2015, with 73 people injured and 1 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 36 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.7% of the year) and are lowest in December (4.3%).
November through March accounts for 46.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 12.9% of truck crashes.
10.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28653 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28653 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 10.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Avery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Avery County) |
|---|---|
| Branch Water | 1 |
| Crossnore Elementary | 1 |
| Freds General Merchant | 1 |
| Hpp | 1 |
| Linville Fd | 1 |
| Nc 194 | 1 |
| Nc 194 B | 1 |
| Old Mortimer | 1 |
ZIP 28653 at a glance
| Population | 26 |
| Density | 240 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Avery 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 | 6 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | -3% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 9 | +60% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 12 | +25% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 12. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28653
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28653?
Avery County has had 116 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 73 people and killing 1.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28653?
Truck crashes in Avery County peak in January, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28653?
Since 2015, Avery County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28653 compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Avery County has 56.1 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28653?
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.