ZIP 80226 (Denver, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 80226: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jefferson 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 5.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Colorado
Jefferson County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.9 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.8 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.4% | 14.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Compared with Colorado, Jefferson County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
ZIP 80226 at a glance: I-70 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 80226 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,011 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jefferson County. They injured 322 people and killed 56.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (9.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.4% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 80226 with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-25 (4), SR-121 (4) and SR-53 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 36 of the truck crashes here, or 3.6%, compared with 2.8% in Colorado.
Their busiest month is July, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 5.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 80226 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- 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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 9 |
| I-25 | 4 |
| SR-121 | 4 |
| SR-53 | 3 |
| SR-95 | 3 |
| US-85 | 3 |
| I-76 | 2 |
| SR-88 | 2 |
| US-40 | 2 |
| W Jewell Ave | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 259 | 11 |
| C470 At Mp 1 | 7 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 240 | 7 |
| I 70 At Mp 262 | 7 |
| I70 At Mp 262 | 6 |
| I 70 At Ward Rd | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 257 | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 253 | 6 |
ZIP 80226 at a glance
| Population | 31,573 |
| Density | 1,502 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $82,300 |
| Median home value | $562,099 |
| Home ownership | 52% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 79 | — | 2.7 |
| 2000s | 114 | +44% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 98 | -14% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 76 | -22% | 3.6 |
In the 1990s about 79 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 76. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 80226
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 80226?
Jefferson County has had 1,011 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 322 people and killing 56.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 80226?
I-70 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 80226 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 80226?
January has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 80226?
36 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 3.6% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 80226 compare with Colorado for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 14.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 80226?
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.