69 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, all recorded fatalities and injuries in Butler County involved motorists. There was one motorist killed and a total of 27 motorists injured in crashes. No fatalities or injuries were reported for pedestrians or cyclists during this period.

Crash occurrences in Butler County showed distinct temporal patterns in 2015. Fridays were the most frequent day for crashes, with 16 incidents, followed by Saturday with 14. The single busiest hour for crashes was 3 PM, which saw 14 collisions, while 43 of the 69 total incidents (62.3%) happened during daylight hours.

Of the 69 crashes in Butler County, a majority (68.1%, or 47 crashes) resulted in no injuries. Crashes involving injuries accounted for 31.9% of the total, distributed among serious (1 crash), minor (7 crashes), and possible injuries (13 crashes). There was one fatal crash recorded during this period, which resulted in one fatality.

Analysis of contributing factors indicates that 'Driving too fast for conditions' was the most cited cause, attributed to 9 of the 69 crashes (13%). Other significant factors included 'Ran off road - straight' and 'Lost Control', each accounting for 6 crashes (8.7%). Collisions involving an animal and reckless or erratic operation were each noted in 5 crashes.

The majority of crashes in 2015 occurred under ideal environmental conditions. Specifically, 48 crashes (69.6%) happened in clear weather, 45 (65.2%) on dry road surfaces, and 43 (62.3%) during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with snow being a factor in 6 crashes and wet roads in 5.

Demographically, individuals aged 16-20 and 21-25 were the most frequently involved in crashes, with 24 persons from each group recorded among the 136 total people. An analysis of the 108 vehicles involved shows that Chevrolet was the most common make with 27 vehicles, followed by Ford with 18 and Dodge with 12.

According to Iowa DOT coding, the leading major cause of crashes was 'Driving too fast for conditions,' cited in 9 incidents. This was followed by 'Ran off road - straight' and 'Lost Control,' each contributing to 6 crashes. Encounters with animals and reckless vehicle operation were each listed as the major cause for 5 crashes.

The most common first harmful event was a 'Collision with: Vehicle in traffic,' which initiated 29 crashes. Collisions with fixed objects, such as bridges and ditches, collectively accounted for 11 crashes. Additionally, collisions with animals were the first harmful event in 5 incidents, and overturns or rollovers were recorded in 3 crashes.

A majority of crashes, 37 out of 69, occurred in non-junction locations along a road segment. Intersections were the site of 22 crashes, with four-way intersections being the most common type, accounting for 13 of these incidents. Crashes related to driveways accounted for another 4 incidents.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 42 of the 108 vehicles. Light trucks and SUVs collectively represented a significant portion as well, with 26 pickups and 17 SUVs involved. Notably, 6 tractor/semi-trailers and 4 motorcycles were also involved in crashes during this period.

For the vehicles involved in crashes where traffic control was documented, the vast majority (85 vehicles) were at locations with 'No controls present.' Stop signs were the most common form of traffic control noted, being present for 10 vehicles involved in collisions. Other controls like warning signs and railway crossing devices were present for a small number of vehicles.

Frontal impacts were the most common area of damage, with 22 vehicles reporting damage to the 'Front' and an additional 26 vehicles sustaining damage to a front corner. Side impacts were also notable, with 11 vehicles damaged in the middle of the driver's side. Rear damage was recorded for 5 vehicles.

The crash data for Butler County shows a concentration of incidents in specific municipalities. Parkersburg had the highest volume with 10 crashes, followed by Shell Rock with 8, and Clarksville with 6. Aplington recorded 4 crashes, while New Hartford and Dumont each had 3.

The data distinguishes between crashes on paved and unpaved road surfaces. A significant minority of incidents, 10 out of 69 crashes (14.5%), occurred on unpaved roads such as gravel or dirt. The majority, 59 crashes, took place on paved surfaces.

While most crashes did not have an explicit roadway factor cited, 'Surface condition' was the most noted contributor, playing a role in 12 incidents. Other factors such as roadway obstructions, ruts or holes, and work zones were each cited in one crash, indicating they were less common contributors.

In a minority of cases, a specific driver condition other than 'apparently normal' was noted. Three drivers were recorded as being under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, fatigue or falling asleep was a condition for two drivers, and a medical condition was noted for another two drivers.

Officer-estimated property damage was recorded for all 69 crashes. The most common damage range was '$1,500 - $7,500,' which applied to 40 crashes. Twenty crashes fell into the '$7,500 - $25,000' category, while 4 crashes (5.8%) involved high-cost damages estimated at over $25,000.

The most frequent type of crash was a 'Non-collision (single vehicle)' event, such as running off the road or overturning, which accounted for 29 of the 69 incidents (42%). Among multi-vehicle crashes, broadside collisions were most common, with 11 occurrences (15.9%), followed by rear-end collisions with 7 occurrences (10.1%).

An analysis of pre-crash actions for the vehicles involved shows that the majority, 65 vehicles, were engaged in 'Movement essentially straight.' Turning left was the next most common maneuver, recorded for 10 vehicles, while slowing/stopping and backing were each the pre-crash action for 6 vehicles.

Of the 136 individuals involved in crashes, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 129 people (94.9%). Passengers made up the remainder, with 7 individuals recorded in this role. No other person types, such as pedestrians or cyclists, were involved in these incidents.

Across all 136 people involved in crashes, 28 individuals sustained some level of injury or were killed. This includes 1 fatality, 2 serious injuries, 9 minor injuries, and 16 possible injuries. The remaining 108 individuals were not injured.

Among the subset of 26 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 9 individuals were noted as having used 'None used'. This represents 34.6% of the occupants with recorded data. Conversely, 17 occupants were recorded as having used a shoulder and lap belt.

The data shows a mix of single and multi-vehicle crashes. Two-vehicle collisions were the most common scenario, accounting for 37 of the 69 crashes. Single-vehicle crashes were also very frequent, with 31 incidents recorded, while only one crash involved three vehicles.