126 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, motorists accounted for all 3 fatalities and the vast majority of injuries, with 60 motorists injured. No cyclists were killed or injured during this period. One pedestrian was reported injured, but there were no pedestrian fatalities.

Crashes in Shelby County during 2015 occurred most frequently on Thursdays, which saw 22 incidents. The single busiest hour for crashes was 4 p.m., with 11 events recorded. Analysis of lighting conditions shows that a majority of crashes, 82 out of 126, happened during daylight hours.

Of the 126 crashes in 2015, 60.3% (76 crashes) resulted in no injuries. The remaining incidents involved injuries of varying severity, including 26 with possible injuries, 14 with minor injuries, and 8 with serious injuries. There were 2 fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 3 fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 2 fatal crash events resulted in 3 persons killed.

The most common contributing factors identified in Shelby County crashes were animal involvement and loss of control, with each cited in 13 incidents (10.3% of the total). Following these, failure to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign and driving too fast for conditions were each noted in 10 crashes (7.9%). Running off a straight road was another significant factor, accounting for 9 crashes.

The majority of crashes in 2015 occurred in favorable conditions, with 65.1% happening in daylight and 54.0% in clear weather. Similarly, 51.6% of crashes took place on dry road surfaces. Adverse weather was a factor in a smaller number of incidents, including 8 crashes in rain and 7 in snow, while wet road surfaces were present in 19 crashes.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 45-54 age group was the most represented, with 42 individuals, closely followed by the 16-20 age group with 41 individuals. Among the 204 vehicles involved, Ford was the most frequent make with 51 vehicles. Chevrolet vehicles accounted for 41 vehicles, and Dodge vehicles were involved in 20 crashes.

The leading major causes of crashes in Shelby County were animal encounters and loss of control, each contributing to 13 incidents. Failure to yield right-of-way from a stop sign and driving too fast for conditions were also significant, each cited as the major cause in 10 crashes. Running off a straight road was the primary cause in another 9 crashes.

The most frequent first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in traffic, which occurred in 59 of the 126 crashes (46.8%). Collisions with fixed objects were also common, with hitting a ditch being the most prevalent event in this category, accounting for 21 crashes. Collisions with animals were recorded as the first harmful event in 13 incidents.

Over half of the crashes, 66 out of 126 (52.4%), occurred at non-junction locations along a road segment. Intersections were the site of 37 crashes, with four-way intersections being the most common type, accounting for 22 of these incidents. An additional 11 crashes happened at T-intersections.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 71 of the 204 vehicles. Sport utility vehicles and four-tire light trucks were also frequently involved, with 47 of each type recorded. Commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers were involved in 5 crashes, and motorcycles were involved in 3 crashes.

For the majority of vehicles involved in crashes, no traffic controls were present; this was the case for 156 of the 204 vehicles. Stop signs were the most common form of traffic control device noted, being relevant to 32 vehicles involved in collisions. Traffic signals were a factor for only 2 vehicles.

The front of the vehicle was the most common area of impact, recorded as the most damaged area for 43 vehicles. Various types of side and corner impacts were also frequent, including 19 vehicles with primary damage to the driver-side front and 18 to the front-passenger-side corner. Rear-end impacts, where the rear was the most damaged area, were noted for 15 vehicles.

Crash distribution within Shelby County was concentrated in Harlan, which recorded 60 of the incidents. The town of Shelby had the next highest volume with 5 crashes. Other municipalities, including Earling and Elk Horn, each accounted for 2 crashes, while Defiance and Portsmouth each had one.

Analysis of the road surface type shows that 104 crashes (82.5%) occurred on paved roads. A notable portion, 22 crashes or 17.5% of the total, took place on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt roads. This reflects the presence of a significant secondary road network within the county.

Roadway factors were cited as a contributor in a minority of crashes. The most common factor was the road surface condition, such as being wet or icy, which was noted in 20 incidents. A slippery, loose, or worn surface was identified as a contributing factor in 5 additional crashes.

Among drivers for whom a condition other than 'apparently normal' was recorded, being under the influence of alcohol was the most frequent, noted for 7 drivers. Driver fatigue or falling asleep was the next most common condition, contributing to 4 incidents. Other recorded conditions included emotional state, illness, and medical issues, each noted once.

Officer-estimated property damage was most commonly in the $1,500 to $7,500 range, which applied to 79 crashes. A significant number of incidents, 41, resulted in damages estimated between $7,500 and $25,000. High-damage crashes, with costs exceeding $25,000, accounted for 4 incidents, or 3.2% of the total.

The most frequent type of incident was a non-collision single-vehicle crash, such as running off the road or an overturn, which accounted for 49 crashes or 38.9% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, broadside collisions were the most common, with 27 incidents (21.4%). Rear-end collisions were the third most frequent manner of collision, occurring 19 times.

The vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes, 134 out of 204, were moving essentially straight just prior to the collision. Turning maneuvers were the next most common pre-crash actions, with 19 vehicles turning left and 10 vehicles turning right. A notable 11 vehicles were legally parked when they were involved in a crash.

Of the 270 individuals involved in crashes, the overwhelming majority, 254 people (94.1%), were drivers. Passengers accounted for another 15 individuals involved in these incidents. A single pedestrian was also recorded as being involved in a crash during this period.

Across all 270 people involved in crashes, 3 individuals sustained fatal injuries and 61 sustained non-fatal injuries. This means approximately 24% of all persons involved were either injured or killed. The non-fatal injuries included 9 serious injuries, 17 minor injuries, and 35 possible injuries.

Among the 52 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was specified, 38 were using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 12 individuals, representing 23% of this specific group, were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. This data represents only a subset of all occupants involved in crashes.

The most common scenario was a two-vehicle crash, which accounted for 66 of the 126 total incidents (52.4%). Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, comprising 54 incidents or 42.9% of the total. A smaller number of crashes, 6 in total, involved three vehicles.