ZIP 97532 (Merlin, OR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 97532: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Josephine 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 of 517 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Josephine County compares with Oregon
Josephine County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Josephine County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Josephine County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.8 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 69% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.6% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 58% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.5% | 24.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.2% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 24.4% | 25.3% | 24.8% | same |
Josephine County sits below Oregon on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Josephine County: 1 in 161 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 2.0% across Oregon.
Overview
Josephine County has recorded 517 truck crashes since 2015, with 153 people injured and 14 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 11.6% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (6.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.4% of truck crashes, against 45.1% across Oregon.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.6% of truck crashes, compared with 13.3% in Oregon.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 97532 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 0.8% of the total, against 2.0% across Oregon.
Route planning tips for ZIP 97532 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Josephine 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 (Josephine County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 .68 N Speaker Rd On Ramp | 6 |
| I-5 2.34 S Sunny Valley Lp On Ramp | 6 |
| I-5 .54 N Speaker Rd Exit | 5 |
| I-5 1.34 S Lariat Dr On Ramp | 5 |
| I-5 .36 S Sunny Valley Lp | 4 |
| I-5 1.17 S Merlin Rd Exit | 4 |
| I-5 1.36 S Sunny Valley Lp Exit | 4 |
| I-5 1.51 S Hwy 199 On Ramp | 4 |
ZIP 97532 at a glance
| Population | 2,578 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $81,167 |
| Median home value | $440,286 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Josephine 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 | 20 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 27 | +37% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 34 | +24% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 46 | +37% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 20 to 46. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 97532
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 97532?
Since 2015, 517 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Josephine County (153 injured, 14 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 97532?
June has the most truck crashes in Josephine County, 11.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 97532?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Josephine County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 97532 compare with Oregon?
Per 100,000 residents, Josephine County has 49.8 truck crashes a year; Oregon has 41.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 97532?
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.