ZIP 41855 (Thornton, KY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 41855: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Letcher 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 112 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Letcher County compares with Kentucky
Letcher County against Kentucky and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Letcher County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Letcher County | Kentucky | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 48.3 | 68.4 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.75 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 29% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.7% | 5.0% | 6.2% | 25% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 22.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 29.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 14.0% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 43% below the state |
Letcher County has lower values than Kentucky for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Letcher County: 8.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Kentucky: 3.5).
Overview
Since 2015, 112 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Letcher County. They injured 82 people and killed 9.
That averages about one truck crash every 38 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 16.1% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 29.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for Kentucky.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 14.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.7% of truck crashes, compared with 5.0% in Kentucky.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 41855 since 2015: SR-15 (3), US-119 (3) and US-250 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (Kentucky: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 41855 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Letcher County.
- 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 Letcher County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-15 | 3 |
| US-119 | 3 |
| US-250 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Letcher County) |
|---|---|
| US-0119 | 31 |
| US-0023 | 24 |
| Ky0015 | 18 |
| Ky0007 | 11 |
| Ky0160 | 5 |
| Ky0806 | 4 |
| Ky0113 | 2 |
| Ky0463 | 2 |
ZIP 41855 at a glance
| Population | 711 |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,132 |
| Home ownership | 98% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Letcher 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 | 7 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 26 | +270% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 14 | -46% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 9 | -35% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 9. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 41855
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 41855?
112 truck crashes have been reported in Letcher County since 2015, with 9 deaths and 82 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 41855?
The worst month is October: 16.1% of truck crashes in Letcher County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 41855?
Since 2015, Letcher County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 41855 compared with Kentucky?
Letcher County records 48.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.4 across Kentucky.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 41855?
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.