ZIP 78576 (Penitas, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78576: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Hidalgo 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hidalgo County compares with Texas
Hidalgo County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hidalgo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.95 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Hidalgo County has lower values than Texas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash.
What stands out in ZIP 78576: Fm 2221 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78576 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 3,121 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Hidalgo County. They injured 2,969 people and killed 65.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 6.7%.
November through March accounts for 43.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
Fm 2221 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 78576 with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by Fm 1925/Monte Cristo Rd (1), Fm1925 Monte Cristo Rd (1) and I-2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 34 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 1.1% in Texas.
Their busiest month is September, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 78576 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to Fm 2221 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Hidalgo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Fm 2221 | 2 |
| Fm 1925/Monte Cristo Rd | 1 |
| Fm1925 Monte Cristo Rd | 1 |
| I-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hidalgo County) |
|---|---|
| S 9901 Cage Blvd | 19 |
| Monte Cristo Rd | 15 |
| Military Hwy | 14 |
| E 1300 Monte Cristo Rd | 14 |
| Alamo Rd | 11 |
| S 9900 Cage Blvd | 9 |
| Moorefield Rd | 8 |
| N 4600 Cage Blvd | 8 |
ZIP 78576 at a glance
| Population | 15,484 |
| Density | 103 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $49,137 |
| Median home value | $145,684 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hidalgo 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 | 178 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 196 | +10% | 6.6 |
| 2010s | 199 | +2% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 296 | +48% | 5.4 |
In the 1990s about 178 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 296. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78576
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 78576?
Hidalgo County has had 3,121 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,969 people and killing 65.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 78576?
Fm 2221 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 78576 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 78576?
March has the most truck crashes in Hidalgo County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 78576?
Garbage trucks were involved in 34 reported crashes in Hidalgo County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 78576 compared with Texas?
Hidalgo County records 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 78576?
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.