ZIP 71973 (Wickes, AR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71973: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Polk 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 of 164 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Arkansas
Polk County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Polk County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.4 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 21% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Polk County sits below Arkansas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Polk County: 1 in 39 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.5%, against 1.6% for Arkansas.
Overview
Police reported 164 crashes involving commercial trucks in Polk County since 2015: 82 people were injured and 11 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 26 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 14.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 3.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.2% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across Arkansas.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 10.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arkansas: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-71 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.4% share (Arkansas: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 71973 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 26.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Arkansas; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 5 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 42 |
| US-71S | 36 |
| US-71N | 19 |
| Sh246E | 6 |
| US-270 | 6 |
| Sh8E | 5 |
| Sh88E | 5 |
| Sh8W | 3 |
ZIP 71973 at a glance
| Population | 994 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $33,313 |
| Home ownership | 71% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Polk 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 | 11 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 11 | -1% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 14 | +33% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 14 | -2% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71973
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 71973?
164 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 11 deaths and 82 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 71973?
Since 2015, US-71 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 71973: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 71973?
June has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 14.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 71973?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 71973 compare with Arkansas?
Polk County records 73.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 92.4 across Arkansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 71973?
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.