Truck accident statistics for Sweetwater County, Wyoming (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Sweetwater County by year

Truck accident deaths rose from 4 in 2020 to 6 in 2021, then fell to 4 in 2022. The count rose to 12 in 2023 before falling to 1 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 3 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual shares of all traffic deaths were 28.6% in 2020, 50.0% in 2021, 30.8% in 2022, 60.0% in 2023 and 20.0% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 14, 12, 13, 20 and 5 in those respective years. Across the period, truck accident deaths averaged 5.4 per year.^{[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 Sweetwater County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 16 deaths, or 59.3%, the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 7 deaths, or 25.9%. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 4 deaths, or 14.8%, in truck accidents during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That quoted label denotes the FARS nonoccupant grouping, including pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. It is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle: the category can include occupants of motor vehicles not in transport, such as parked vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

Fatal truck accidents in Sweetwater County involved 40 large trucks during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors, identified as semi or tractor-trailer units in the table, numbered 32 and represented 80.0% of those large trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 8. The records also identified 4 large trucks as jackknifed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, distinct from the 26 fatal crashes and 27 deaths recorded for the period. A truck crash can involve multiple large trucks, so the trucks table should be read as a count of vehicles involved.^{[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

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) and Rear-end each recorded 4 deaths (14.8%); Head-on, Sideswipe and Other each recorded 1 (3.7%). "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 16 (59.3%). This means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, which can include a vehicle stopped in traffic. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, truck accident deaths by crash configuration were 13 (48.1%) for Single-vehicle, 11 (40.7%) for Two-vehicle and 3 (11.1%) for Three or more vehicles. These shares describe vehicle involvement, distinct from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate-coded truck accident deaths numbered 24, or 88.9%, during 2020 through 2024. The listed I-80 route count was 24 deaths. Interstate identification requires the interstate route code and a readable I-route number; the listed route represents the packet's route-coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 17 deaths (63.0%). Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 10 (37.0%). Urban records counted 5 deaths (18.5%), while rural records counted 22 (81.5%). Work-zone records counted 2 deaths, a death measure rather than a count of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with Wyoming and the United States

Sweetwater County's truck accident death rate was 13.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Wyoming's rate was 4.7, and the national rate was 1.6. The county rate was higher than both. The corresponding death counts were 27 for Sweetwater County, 137 for Wyoming and 27,553 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths at the crash location and annual Census population estimates. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and they do not measure deaths by the deceased person's residence. For readers searching for a truck accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is the county where the crash occurred.^{[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 a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts use crash location, not residence. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File.^[9][6][7][8]

Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The result is average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate of 41,350 is not the rate denominator.^[9][6][7][8]