ZIP 87520 (Chama, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87520: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Rio Arriba 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 75 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rio Arriba County compares with New Mexico
Rio Arriba County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rio Arriba County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rio Arriba County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 65% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 15.7 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 21% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 9.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.3% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.7% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 31% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.7% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with New Mexico, Rio Arriba County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Rio Arriba County: 1 in 23 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.3%, against 0.4% for New Mexico.
Overview
Police reported 75 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rio Arriba County since 2015: 33 people were injured and 13 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 57 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.7% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 12.0% of truck crashes.
14.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 12.1% across New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 87520 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-64 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for ZIP 87520 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 14.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Mexico), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Rio Arriba County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-64 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rio Arriba County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 8 |
| US-84 | 5 |
| US-64 | 5 |
| State Road 68 | 2 |
| Bl0Ck Of South Riverside Drive | 1 |
| County Road 56A | 1 |
| County Road 69 | 1 |
| Hwy 84/285 Mm 197 | 1 |
ZIP 87520 at a glance
| Population | 1,148 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $38,889 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rio Arriba 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 | 2 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 5 | +178% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 6 | +20% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 7 | +9% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 7. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87520
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 87520?
Since 2015, 75 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rio Arriba County (33 injured, 13 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 87520?
The worst month is January: 14.7% of truck crashes in Rio Arriba County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 87520?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Rio Arriba County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 87520 compared with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 15.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rio Arriba County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 87520?
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.