ZIP 28749 (Little Switzerland, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28749: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in McDowell 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 622 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McDowell County compares with North Carolina
McDowell County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McDowell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McDowell County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 119.7 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 93% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
McDowell County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
McDowell County at a glance: 1 in 588 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.2%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 622 crashes involving commercial trucks in McDowell County since 2015: 288 people were injured and 13 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 6.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (9.0%).
Road surface: 2.2% 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 28749 since 2015: SR-226 (1), SR-80 (1) and US-19 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.3% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28749 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 2.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in McDowell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-226 | 1 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
| US-19 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McDowell County) |
|---|---|
| North Main Street | 6 |
| Love'S Travel Store | 4 |
| Pilot Travel Center | 4 |
| Baldwin Avenue | 3 |
| Love'S Travel Stop | 3 |
| E Court St | 2 |
| Pilot Pva | 2 |
| Pilot Truck Stop | 2 |
ZIP 28749 at a glance
| Population | 0 |
| Density | 0 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McDowell 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 | 35 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 43 | +24% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 51 | +18% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 50 | -2% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 35 to 50. 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 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28749
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28749?
McDowell County has had 622 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 288 people and killing 13.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28749?
Truck crashes in McDowell County peak in June, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28749?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in McDowell County since 2015 (0.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28749 compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, McDowell County has 119.7 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28749?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.