119 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

All 56 injuries recorded in Lucas County in 2015 were sustained by motorists. There were no fatalities among any group. Furthermore, no crashes during this period resulted in injuries or fatalities to pedestrians or cyclists.

Crashes in Lucas County occurred most frequently on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with each day recording 20 incidents. The evening commute period was a distinct peak, with the single hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. accounting for 15 crashes. A notable monthly spike occurred in November, which saw 28 crashes, significantly more than any other month.

Of the 119 total crashes, 59.7% (71 crashes) resulted in no injuries, while the remaining 40.3% (48 crashes) involved at least one injury. These injury crashes included 6 with serious injuries, 18 with minor injuries, and 24 with possible injuries. There were no fatal crashes recorded in Lucas County during this period, and consequently, zero fatalities.

The most dominant contributing factor to crashes was animals in the roadway, cited in 55 incidents, or 46.2% of the total. Following distantly were factors such as 'Driving too fast for conditions' and 'Lost Control,' each contributing to 8 crashes (6.7% each). Failure to yield from a stop sign was also a notable factor, listed in 6 crashes (5.0%).

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 63.9% (76 crashes) happening in clear weather and 60.5% (72 crashes) on dry road surfaces. Regarding lighting, 43.7% of crashes (52 incidents) took place during daylight hours. However, a notable 32.8% of crashes (39 incidents) occurred after dark on unlighted roadways.

Among persons involved in crashes with a known age, the 45-54 age group was the most represented, with 41 individuals. The most common vehicle makes involved in collisions were Chevrolet (38 vehicles), Ford (25 vehicles), and Dodge (13 vehicles). These figures represent the frequency of involvement in crashes and not market share.

Collisions with animals were the leading major cause of crashes, accounting for 55 incidents. Other primary causes included driving too fast for conditions and losing control, each cited in 8 crashes. Failure to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign was the cause of 6 crashes.

The most common first harmful event was a collision with an animal, which initiated 54 crashes. The second most frequent event was a collision with another vehicle in traffic, occurring in 31 incidents. Non-collision events, such as an overturn or rollover, were the first harmful event in 7 crashes.

The majority of crashes, 73 incidents, did not occur at or near an intersection or junction. Four-way intersections were the most common junction type for crashes, accounting for 19 incidents. Driveways and interchange ramps were each associated with a small number of crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 75 units recorded. Light trucks and pickups were the second most frequent with 35 vehicles, followed by sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with 26. There were also 5 tractor-trailers and 3 motorcycles involved in crashes during this period.

A significant majority of crashes, totaling 120 incidents, occurred on road segments where no traffic controls were present. Stop signs were the most common form of traffic control noted at crash locations, present in 13 cases. Work zone signage was a factor in 4 crashes.

The front of the vehicle was the most common area of impact, recorded as the most damaged area for 40 vehicles. Frontal impacts also included 18 incidents damaging the driver-side front and 15 damaging the front passenger-side corner. Rear-end collisions were indicated by 10 vehicles having the rear as the most damaged area.

The highest concentration of crashes within municipal limits occurred in Chariton, which recorded 33 incidents. The town of Lucas had the next highest number with 8 crashes. Other municipalities, including Derby and Russell, each recorded fewer than 5 crashes.

Crashes predominantly occurred on paved surfaces, which accounted for 102 incidents. However, a notable 17 crashes, representing 14.3% of the total, took place on unpaved gravel or dirt roads within the county.

In the minority of crashes where a roadway factor was cited, adverse surface conditions such as wet or icy pavement were the most common, contributing to 10 incidents. Other factors like an obstruction in the roadway or a work zone were each noted in only one crash.

The most frequent estimated property damage cost was in the $1,500 to $7,500 range, which applied to 81 crashes. Nine crashes resulted in severe property damage estimated at over $25,000. Another 20 crashes fell into the $7,500 to $25,000 damage category.

Single-vehicle, non-collision events were the dominant manner of collision, accounting for 72 crashes or 60.5% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, broadside (front-to-side) collisions were the most common type with 14 incidents, followed by rear-end collisions with 10 incidents.

The vast majority of drivers were moving straight ahead prior to their crash, with this action recorded for 112 vehicles. Turning left was the next most common pre-crash action, noted for 10 vehicles. Five vehicles were stopped in traffic just before being involved in a collision.

Of the 219 individuals involved in crashes, the overwhelming majority, 212 people, were drivers. The remaining 7 individuals were passengers in vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were recorded as being involved in any crashes during this period.

A total of 56 individuals sustained injuries in crashes. Of these, 6 people suffered serious injuries, 22 had minor injuries, and 28 were recorded with possible injuries. These figures represent the total count of injured persons across all 119 crashes.

Based on the limited available data for safety equipment usage, 42 occupants were recorded as using a shoulder and lap belt. In contrast, 3 individuals were noted as having used no safety equipment at the time of their crash.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most common type, accounting for 78 of the 119 total incidents (65.5%). Crashes involving two vehicles occurred 40 times. Additionally, there was one incident reported that involved four vehicles.