ZIP 59601 (Helena, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59601: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lewis and Clark 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 228 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lewis and Clark County compares with Montana
Lewis and Clark County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lewis and Clark County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.9 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 61% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.5% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.3% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 16% below the state |
| After dark | 20.9% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Compared with Montana, Lewis and Clark County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Lewis and Clark County: October 13.2% of truck crashes happen in October, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 228 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lewis and Clark County since 2015: 69 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 13.2% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 34.5% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 59601 since 2015 were spread across roads: N Rodney St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 0.9% in Montana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 59601 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lewis and Clark County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| N Rodney St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lewis and Clark County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 221.5 I-15 | 4 |
| Mm 213.0 I-15 | 3 |
| Mm221.6 I-15 | 2 |
| Canyon Ferry Rd\Custer Ave | 1 |
| E Us Highway 12 And Lola St | 1 |
| Mm 108.2 Mt Highway 200 | 1 |
| Mm 213.1 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 213.1 I15 | 1 |
ZIP 59601 at a glance
| Population | 31,728 |
| Density | 94 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $72,290 |
| Median home value | $386,386 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lewis and Clark 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 | — | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 18 | — | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 18 | +1% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 18 | +0% | 1.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59601
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 59601?
228 truck crashes have been reported in Lewis and Clark County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 69 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 59601?
The worst month is October: 13.2% of truck crashes in Lewis and Clark County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 59601?
Since 2015, Lewis and Clark County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 59601 compare with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Lewis and Clark County has 24.9 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 59601?
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.