ZIP 28665 (Purlear, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28665: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wilkes 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
15 of 431 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wilkes County compares with North Carolina
Wilkes County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wilkes County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wilkes County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Wilkes County has lower values than North Carolina for in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Wilkes County at a glance: 1 in 28 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.6%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 431 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wilkes County since 2015: 318 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.2% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28665 since 2015: US-421 (2), SR-16 (1) and Ssr-1372 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28665 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 26.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- 1.9% 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Wilkes County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 2 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| Ssr-1372 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wilkes County) |
|---|---|
| Call St | 2 |
| River St | 2 |
| US-421 | 2 |
| Wilkesboro Ave | 2 |
| 2Nd St | 1 |
| 6Th Street | 1 |
| Bojangles | 1 |
| Chatham Street | 1 |
ZIP 28665 at a glance
| Population | 2,483 |
| Density | 15 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $45,685 |
| Median home value | $162,612 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wilkes 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 | 28 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 29 | +3% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 39 | +35% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | -13% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 28 a year in the 1990s and 34 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28665
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28665?
Since 2015, 431 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wilkes County (318 injured, 12 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28665?
The worst month is January: 11.1% of truck crashes in Wilkes County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28665?
Since 2015, Wilkes County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28665 compare with North Carolina?
Wilkes County records 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28665?
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.