ZIP 81050 (La Junta, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81050: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Otero 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
2 of 90 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Otero County compares with Colorado
Otero County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Otero County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Otero County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.0 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 36% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.5% | 22.4% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Colorado, Otero County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
What stands out in Otero County: August the month with the most truck crashes: 15.6% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 90 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Otero County. They injured 27 people and killed 3.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 47 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 15.6% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (4.4%).
November through March accounts for 41.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 10.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 81050 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (Colorado: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 81050 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Otero County.
- 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 Otero County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Otero County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 50 At Hwy 71 | 4 |
| Hwy 71 At Hwy 50 | 3 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 364 | 3 |
| Hwy 10 At Mp 52 | 2 |
| Hwy 50 At Hwy 72 | 2 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 366 | 2 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 370 | 2 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 381 | 2 |
ZIP 81050 at a glance
| Population | 9,894 |
| Density | 8 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $57,180 |
| Median home value | $185,753 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Otero 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 | 8 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 8 | +1% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 8 | -1% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 8 | -7% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81050
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 81050?
Otero County has had 90 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 27 people and killing 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 81050?
Truck crashes in Otero County peak in August, with 15.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 81050?
Since 2015, Otero County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 81050 compared with Colorado?
The yearly rate is 43.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Otero County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 81050?
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.