ZIP 80438 (Empire, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 80438: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Clear Creek 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 381 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clear Creek County compares with Colorado
Clear Creek County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clear Creek County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clear Creek County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 352.6 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 10.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 79% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 32.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.4% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 2.0× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 43.5% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 32.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Clear Creek County has lower values than Colorado for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Clear Creek County at a glance: 32.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Overview
Since 2015, 381 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Clear Creek County. They injured 106 people and killed 10.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 11.0% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (3.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% 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 32.1% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 80438 happened on I-70 (4); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 0.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for ZIP 80438 fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 32.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Colorado), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Clear Creek County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clear Creek County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 216 | 13 |
| I 70 At Mp 227 | 8 |
| I 70 At Mp 244 | 8 |
| I70 At Mp 216 | 7 |
| I70 At Mp 246 | 7 |
| I 70 At Mp 240 | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 229 | 6 |
| I 70 At Mp 218 | 6 |
ZIP 80438 at a glance
| Population | 970 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,034 |
| Home ownership | 49% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clear Creek 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 | 30 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 34 | +15% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 35 | +2% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 32 | -9% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 30 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 32. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 80438
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 80438?
Since 2015, 381 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Clear Creek County (106 injured, 10 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 80438?
February has the most truck crashes in Clear Creek County, 11.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 80438?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clear Creek County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 80438 compare with Colorado?
The yearly rate is 352.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Clear Creek County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 80438?
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.