Truck accident statistics for McKinley County, New Mexico (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in McKinley County by year

Truck accident deaths rose from 7 in 2020 to 16 in 2021, then fell to 7 in 2022. The count rose to 8 in 2023 before falling to 2 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 5 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual share of traffic deaths attributed to truck accidents was 29.2% in 2020, 50.0% in 2021, 20.6% in 2022, 27.6% in 2023 and 11.8% in 2024. All traffic deaths reached their highest count in 2022 at 34, while truck accident deaths reached their highest count in 2021. These annual figures describe deaths at crash locations within the county.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in McKinley County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 7 deaths, or 17.5%. People in other vehicles accounted for 25 deaths, or 62.5%, the largest person category for truck accident deaths. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 8 deaths, or 20.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The FARS nonoccupant grouping is represented by that quoted label and includes pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. Occupants of motor vehicles not in transport, such as parked vehicles, can fall within the other category. Whether someone was outside a vehicle is not literally what the label tests.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

Fatal truck accidents in McKinley County involved 39 large trucks during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors (semi or tractor-trailer units) accounted for 38 trucks, or 97.4% of the large trucks recorded. The Single-unit and other large trucks category recorded 1 truck. Large trucks recorded as jackknifed numbered 2.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, separate from the county's 31 fatal crashes and 40 deaths. A crash can involve multiple large trucks, so the trucks table does not count distinct truck accidents. The jackknifed figure likewise counts trucks, rather than crashes or people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

By manner of collision, rear-end crashes accounted for 18 deaths (45.0%), head-on for 4 (10.0%), angle (side impact) for 3 (7.5%), sideswipe for 2 (5.0%) and not reported for 1 (2.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

"Not a collision with another moving vehicle" accounted for 12 deaths (30.0%). This describes a first harmful event without collision with a motor vehicle in transport, such as striking a pedestrian or parked vehicle, or a rollover. A vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separate truck accident configuration figures show single-vehicle crashes accounted for 10 deaths (25.0%), two-vehicle crashes for 23 (57.5%) and crashes involving three or more vehicles for 7 (17.5%). Configuration and manner of collision are separate classifications.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 33, or 82.5%. The listed I-40 route-coded count was 33 deaths. These figures use the interstate route classification plus a parseable interstate route number; the listed route is a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime recorded 18 deaths (45.0%), compared with 22 (55.0%) at nighttime. The daytime period runs from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.; nighttime runs from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. Urban locations recorded 1 death (2.5%), and rural locations recorded 39 (97.5%). Work-zone records accounted for 7 deaths, a count of people killed rather than trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with New Mexico and the United States

McKinley County's truck accident death rate was 11.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That was higher than New Mexico's rate of 3.9 and the national rate of 1.6. Listed neighboring Cibola County had a rate of 23.8, higher than McKinley County's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The corresponding death counts were 40 in McKinley County, 413 in New Mexico, 27,553 nationally and 32 in Cibola County. Rates use deaths at crash locations and annual population estimates, and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. For readers using the phrase "truck accident lawyer," the grouping remains crash location, rather than the home county of the people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Counts follow the county of the crash, not where people lived. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[9][6][7][8]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced with the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[9][6][7][8]