ZIP 71002 (Ashland, LA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71002: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Natchitoches Parish, 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 of 496 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Natchitoches Parish compares with Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish against Louisiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Natchitoches Parish stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Natchitoches Parish | Louisiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.5 | 81.5 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.77 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 61% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 23.6% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 40.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.8% | 23.9% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Natchitoches Parish has lower values than Louisiana for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Natchitoches Parish at a glance: 1 in 118 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Louisiana.
Overview
Police reported 496 crashes involving commercial trucks in Natchitoches Parish since 2015: 328 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.0%).
November through March accounts for 42.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.3% in Louisiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Louisiana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 71002 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-153 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 0.8%, compared with 2.2% in Louisiana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 71002 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Natchitoches Parish
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-153 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Natchitoches Parish) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 217 |
| La-6 | 88 |
| La-1 | 36 |
| US-71 | 18 |
| La-9 | 13 |
| La-174 | 11 |
| La-486 | 10 |
| La-117 | 10 |
ZIP 71002 at a glance
| Population | 151 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $43,239 |
| Median home value | $139,031 |
| Home ownership | 66% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish 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 | 13 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 31 | +136% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 44 | +43% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 41 | -7% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 13 a year in the 1990s and 41 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71002
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 71002?
Since 2015, 496 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Natchitoches Parish (328 injured, 18 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 71002?
The worst month is December: 10.1% of truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 71002?
Since 2015, Natchitoches Parish has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 71002 compare with Louisiana?
Natchitoches Parish records 118.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 81.5 across Louisiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 71002?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.