ZIP 71452 (Melrose, LA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71452: 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 sits below Louisiana on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Natchitoches Parish at a glance: 1 in 118 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.9%, vs 2.2% in 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
The worst month is December with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
November through March accounts for 42.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.3% in Louisiana.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
0.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Louisiana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 71452 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-49 (1), SR-1 (1) and US-71 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Louisiana: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 71452 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Natchitoches Parish
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| US-71 | 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 71452 at a glance
| Population | 69 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 96% |
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. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71452
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 71452?
Since 2015, 496 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Natchitoches Parish (328 injured, 18 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 71452?
The worst month is December: 10.1% of truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 71452?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Natchitoches Parish since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 71452 compare with Louisiana?
The yearly rate is 118.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Natchitoches Parish, vs 81.5 for Louisiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 71452?
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.