228 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

All fatalities and injuries in Mills County in 2015 involved motorists. A total of 2 motorists were killed and 113 were injured in crashes. There were no recorded fatalities or injuries involving pedestrians or cyclists during this period.

Crashes in Mills County occurred most frequently on Wednesdays, which saw 44 incidents in 2015. The peak time for crashes was the 4 p.m. hour, with 18 events recorded. Overall, more crashes happened during daylight hours (120) compared to all dark conditions combined (73).

Of the 228 crashes, 63.2% resulted in no injuries, being classified as property-damage-only events. The remaining 36.8% of crashes involved some level of injury, including 17 serious injury crashes and 31 minor injury crashes. There were 2 fatal crashes during this period, which resulted in a total of 2 fatalities.

The most common contributing factor identified in crashes was an animal in the roadway, cited in 59 incidents (25.9%). Losing control of the vehicle was the second most frequent factor, contributing to 34 crashes (14.9%). Other significant factors included running off a straight road (19 crashes) and driving too fast for conditions (16 crashes).

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 65.4% on dry roads and 52.6% in clear weather. Similarly, 120 crashes (52.6%) took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions still played a role, as 25 crashes happened on wet roads and 65 occurred on unlighted roadways in the dark.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 66 individuals, followed by the 45-54 age group with 61 individuals. Among the 305 vehicles involved, Ford was the most frequent make, appearing in 64 instances. Chevrolet (including abbreviated names) was second with 54 vehicles, and Dodge was third with 24 vehicles.

The leading major cause of crashes was attributed to animals, which was a factor in 59 incidents. Losing control of the vehicle was the second-most cited cause, contributing to 34 crashes. Other frequently recorded causes include running off a straight road (19 crashes), driving too fast for conditions (16 crashes), and failure to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign (12 crashes).

The most common first harmful event was a collision with an animal, recorded in 59 crashes. The second most frequent event was a collision with another vehicle in traffic, occurring 52 times. Run-off-road events were also common, with 28 crashes involving an overturn or rollover and 18 involving a collision with a ditch.

A significant majority of crashes, 148 out of 228 (64.9%), occurred on non-junction road segments. In contrast, 31 crashes (13.6%) happened at intersections, with four-way intersections being the most common type (12 crashes). Driveway access points were related to 9 crashes, and interchange areas accounted for another 7 incidents.

Passenger cars were the most prevalent vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 136 of the 305 vehicles. Light trucks and pickups were the second most common with 57 vehicles, followed by sport utility vehicles with 50. Commercial vehicles and motorcycles were also present, with 14 tractor-trailers and 12 motorcycles involved in incidents.

For vehicles involved in crashes, the overwhelming majority (245 instances) were in areas with no traffic controls present. Stop signs were the most common form of traffic control noted, being relevant in 26 instances. All other forms of traffic control, such as yield signs and traffic signals, were present in fewer than 5 instances each.

The front of the vehicle was the most common area of damage, recorded in 67 instances. Rear impacts were noted in 24 cases, suggesting a share of rear-end collisions. Damage to the driver's side was recorded 20 times, and damage to the passenger's side was recorded 15 times, indicating the presence of angle or sideswipe collisions.

Driver impairment was noted in 12 crashes, representing 5.3% of all incidents in 2015. Of these, 11 cases involved alcohol, and one case involved drugs. These figures should be considered a minimum, as impairment is often difficult to determine at the scene of a crash.

Within Mills County, the city of Glenwood experienced the highest volume of crashes, with 38 incidents reported. The towns of Malvern and Pacific Junction recorded the next highest totals, with 9 and 8 crashes, respectively. A number of crashes also occurred in smaller municipalities like Hastings and Emerson, each with 3 reported incidents.

The vast majority of crashes (203) occurred on paved roads. However, a notable 24 crashes, representing 10.6% of the total for which this was recorded, took place on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt roads. This highlights the role of the county's secondary road network in traffic incidents.

Roadway factors were identified as contributors in a minority of crashes. The most common factor was the road surface condition, such as being wet or icy, which was cited in 25 incidents. An additional 5 crashes were attributed to a slippery, loose, or worn surface.

While most drivers were recorded as 'apparently normal,' specific conditions were noted for some. Driving under the influence of alcohol was the most cited condition, with 12 instances. Driver fatigue or falling asleep was the second most common, recorded in 10 instances.

The estimated cost of property damage was most frequently in the $1,500 to $7,500 range, which applied to 145 crashes. A substantial number of crashes, 71, resulted in damages between $7,500 and $25,000. Six crashes were estimated to have caused high-value damage exceeding $25,000.

The predominant crash type was a non-collision event involving a single vehicle, such as a run-off-road or overturn, which accounted for 151 crashes or 66.2% of the total. Among multi-vehicle incidents, rear-end collisions were the most common, with 21 occurrences (9.2%). Broadside collisions were the next most frequent type, with 13 incidents.

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was moving essentially straight, which was the case for 196 of the 305 vehicles involved. Turning left was the next most frequent maneuver, recorded for 20 vehicles prior to a crash. Backing was the third most common action, noted for 13 vehicles.

Of the 421 people involved in crashes, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 398 individuals (94.5%). The remaining 23 individuals (5.5%) were passengers. No pedestrians or cyclists were recorded as being involved in these incidents.

Across all 421 people involved in crashes, 115 were either injured or killed. This includes 2 fatalities, 24 serious injuries, 44 minor injuries, and 45 possible injuries. The majority of individuals involved in crashes did not sustain a reported injury.

Among the 82 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was documented, 10 individuals (12.2%) were recorded as using no restraints. The most common restraint type was a shoulder and lap belt, used by 65 people. Three individuals were in a child safety seat and three used a DOT-compliant helmet.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most common type, accounting for 158 incidents, or 69.3% of all crashes. Two-vehicle collisions were the next most frequent, with 64 occurrences. There were also 5 three-vehicle crashes and one four-vehicle crash reported during the year.