ZIP 87581 (Vallecitos, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87581: 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
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
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 |
Rio Arriba County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Rio Arriba County: 1 in 23 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.3%, vs 0.4% in New Mexico.
Overview
Since 2015, 75 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rio Arriba County. They injured 33 people and killed 13.
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%).
November through March accounts for 45.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.8% in New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (12.0%).
Road surface: 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, no fatal large-truck crashes with a location were recorded within 10 miles of ZIP 87581.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for ZIP 87581 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rio Arriba County.
- 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above New Mexico; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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
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 (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 87581 at a glance
| Population | 0 |
| Density | 0 per sq mi |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 7 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87581
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 87581?
75 truck crashes have been reported in Rio Arriba County since 2015, with 13 deaths and 33 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 87581?
Truck crashes in Rio Arriba County peak in January, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 87581?
Since 2015, Rio Arriba County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 87581 compared with New Mexico?
Rio Arriba County records 15.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 45.6 across New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 87581?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.