ZIP 71726 (Chidester, AR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71726: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Ouachita 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
3 of 204 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ouachita County compares with Arkansas
Ouachita County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ouachita County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ouachita County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 79.7 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 84% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.9% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 49% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.4% | 40.9% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 15.8% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Ouachita County has lower values than Arkansas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Ouachita County at a glance: 0.5% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Arkansas: 3.3%).
Overview
Ouachita County has recorded 204 truck crashes since 2015, with 109 people injured and 8 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (3.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.4% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across Arkansas.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
0.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 71726 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-24 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Arkansas: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 71726 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ouachita County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.9% of truck crashes here, more than Arkansas; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Ouachita County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-24 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ouachita County) |
|---|---|
| US-79 | 38 |
| Sh7 | 21 |
| US-278 | 16 |
| Sh9 | 13 |
| Sh376 | 11 |
| Sh24 | 10 |
| US-278W | 9 |
| US-79N | 9 |
ZIP 71726 at a glance
| Population | 1,108 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $31,328 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ouachita 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 | 9 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 8 | -3% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 14 | +60% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 18 | +32% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 9 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71726
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 71726?
Since 2015, 204 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Ouachita County (109 injured, 8 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 71726?
The worst month is May: 10.3% of truck crashes in Ouachita County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 71726?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Ouachita County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 71726 compare with Arkansas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 79.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ouachita County, vs 92.4 for Arkansas.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 71726?
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.