ZIP 87544 (Los Alamos, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87544: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Sandoval 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
6 of 242 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Sandoval County compares with New Mexico
Sandoval County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sandoval County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sandoval County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 12.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 72% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.2 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.56 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 6.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 32.3% | 30.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Mexico, Sandoval County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Sandoval County at a glance: 1 in 37 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.7%, vs 0.4% in New Mexico.
Overview
Since 2015, 242 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Sandoval County. They injured 126 people and killed 17.
That averages about one truck crash every 18 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
9.4% 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 87544 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-502 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
6 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (New Mexico: 0.4%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 87544 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 25.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Mexico.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Sandoval County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-502 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sandoval County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 57 |
| I-25 | 15 |
| SR-550 | 5 |
| Nm 528 | 4 |
| State Road 528 | 3 |
| Us Highway 550 & Ts Jicarilla Rd | 3 |
| W Us 550 | 3 |
| Abrazo Rd | 2 |
ZIP 87544 at a glance
| Population | 13,598 |
| Density | 40 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $138,583 |
| Median home value | $494,064 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sandoval 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 | 4 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 10 | +163% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +79% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 19 | +5% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 19 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87544
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 87544?
Sandoval County has had 242 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 126 people and killing 17.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 87544?
Truck crashes in Sandoval County peak in September, with 13.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 87544?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Sandoval County since 2015 (2.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 87544 compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, Sandoval County has 12.9 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 87544?
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.