ZIP 95076 (Watsonville, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 95076: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Santa Cruz 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Santa Cruz County compares with California
Santa Cruz County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Santa Cruz County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Santa Cruz County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 49% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 78% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.1% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 41% below the state |
Compared with California, Santa Cruz County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Santa Cruz County: 1 in 22 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.5%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
Police reported 513 crashes involving commercial trucks in Santa Cruz County since 2015: 175 people were injured and 16 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.8%.
November through March accounts for 39.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-129 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by CR-MOUNT Madonna Rd (1), CR-SAN Miguel Canyon Rd (1) and CR-SAN Miguel Canyon Road (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
22 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.3% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (18%).
They recorded 4.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 95076 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-129; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Santa Cruz County.
- 28.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Santa Cruz County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-129 | 2 |
| CR-MOUNT Madonna Rd | 1 |
| CR-SAN Miguel Canyon Rd | 1 |
| CR-SAN Miguel Canyon Road | 1 |
| Carlton Rd | 1 |
| Elkhorn Rd | 1 |
| Freedom Blvd | 1 |
| Harkins Slough Rd | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| SR-152 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Santa Cruz County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-1 S/B | 8 |
| Sr-1 N/B | 4 |
| Sr-17 S/B | 3 |
| SR-129 | 3 |
| Rt129/1.3M W Old Chittenden Rd | 3 |
| Freedom Blvd | 3 |
| Alba Rd/.13Mi W Of Rt19 | 2 |
| Main St/Green Valley Rd | 2 |
ZIP 95076 at a glance
| Population | 82,806 |
| Density | 237 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $91,099 |
| Median home value | $792,851 |
| Home ownership | 57% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Santa Cruz 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 | — | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 41 | — | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 43 | +4% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 42 | -1% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 41 a year in the 2000s and 42 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 95076
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 95076?
Santa Cruz County has had 513 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 175 people and killing 16.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 95076?
SR-129 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 95076 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 95076?
September has the most truck crashes in Santa Cruz County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 95076?
Since 2015, Santa Cruz County has reported 22 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 95076 compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Santa Cruz County has 17.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 95076?
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.