ZIP 42553 (Science Hill, KY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 42553: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pulaski 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 376 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pulaski County compares with Kentucky
Pulaski County against Kentucky and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pulaski County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pulaski County | Kentucky | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 48.7 | 68.4 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.7% | 5.0% | 6.2% | 66% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Pulaski County sits below Kentucky on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Pulaski County: 1 in 24 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.2%, against 2.6% for Kentucky.
Overview
Police reported 376 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pulaski County since 2015: 216 people were injured and 15 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 10.6% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.4%).
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in Kentucky.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (9.6%).
1.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 5.0% across Kentucky.
Where crashes happen
SR-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 42553 with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-1247 (1), SR-635 (1) and SR-9008 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 2.6% in Kentucky.
Route planning tips for ZIP 42553 fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pulaski County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than Kentucky; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Pulaski County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-80 | 2 |
| SR-1247 | 1 |
| SR-635 | 1 |
| SR-9008 | 1 |
| SR-914 | 1 |
| US-27 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pulaski County) |
|---|---|
| US-0027 | 92 |
| Ky0080 | 69 |
| Ky0914 | 44 |
| Ky1247 | 22 |
| Ky0461 | 20 |
| Ln9008 | 18 |
| Ky0039 | 9 |
| Ky0090 | 8 |
ZIP 42553 at a glance
| Population | 5,649 |
| Density | 33 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $52,737 |
| Median home value | $142,150 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pulaski 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 | 22 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 30 | +39% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 30 | -1% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | +12% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 22 to 34. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 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 42553
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 42553?
376 truck crashes have been reported in Pulaski County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 216 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 42553?
SR-80 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 42553 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 42553?
The worst month is November: 10.6% of truck crashes in Pulaski County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 42553?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Pulaski County since 2015 (4.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 42553 compared with Kentucky?
Pulaski County records 48.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.4 across Kentucky.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 42553?
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.