ZIP 53121 (Elkhorn, WI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 53121: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Walworth 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
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Walworth County compares with Wisconsin
Walworth County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Walworth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Walworth County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.7 | 42.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.6% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 28% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.7% | 26.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.4% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 31% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Walworth County has lower values than Wisconsin for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Walworth County: 1 in 20 crashes involve a garbage truck (27 since 2015), vs 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Overview
Police reported 538 crashes involving commercial trucks in Walworth County since 2015: 279 people were injured and 29 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.3% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
US-12 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 53121 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-O (2), CR-H Interchange North (1) and SR-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 27 crashes, 5.0% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (22%).
They recorded 4.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 5.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 53121 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Walworth County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-12; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Walworth 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 Walworth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 3 |
| CR-O | 2 |
| CR-H Interchange North | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Walworth County) |
|---|---|
| I-043 | 93 |
| Ush 012 | 85 |
| Sth 120 | 33 |
| Ush 014 | 31 |
| Sth 011 | 28 |
| Sth 067 | 22 |
| Sth 050 | 17 |
| Sth 020 | 13 |
ZIP 53121 at a glance
| Population | 18,551 |
| Density | 63 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $85,643 |
| Median home value | $312,687 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Walworth 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 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 42 | +21% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 42 | -2% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 48 | +15% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 35 a year in the 1990s and 48 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 53121
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 53121?
538 truck crashes have been reported in Walworth County since 2015, with 29 deaths and 279 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 53121?
Since 2015, US-12 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 53121: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 53121?
August has the most truck crashes in Walworth County, 11.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 53121?
Garbage trucks were involved in 27 reported crashes in Walworth County since 2015 (5.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 53121 compared with Wisconsin?
Per 100,000 residents, Walworth County has 43.7 truck crashes a year; Wisconsin has 42.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 53121?
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.