82 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, there were no fatalities among any road users in Van Buren County. A total of 36 motorists were injured in crashes. Additionally, one pedestrian and one cyclist sustained injuries in separate incidents.

Crash occurrences in Van Buren County during 2015 peaked on Saturdays, which saw 20 incidents. The busiest times of day were the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. hours, each recording 7 crashes. Overall, 42 crashes occurred during daylight, while 33 took place in dark, dusk, or dawn conditions.

The majority of crashes, 54 out of 82 (65.9%), resulted in no injuries. Injury-related crashes accounted for the remaining 34.1% of incidents, with 8 classified as serious injury, 10 as minor injury, and 10 as possible injury. There were no fatal crashes recorded in 2015, and consequently, no persons were killed.

The leading contributing factor for crashes was animals, cited in 22 incidents (26.8%). The second most common factor was losing control of the vehicle, which accounted for 17 crashes (20.7%). Other notable factors included running off the road while driving straight (7 crashes) and failure to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign (4 crashes).

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 58 incidents happening in clear weather and 56 on dry road surfaces. Daylight conditions were present for 42 crashes. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 10 crashes occurring on cloudy days and 4 on wet or rainy roads, while crashes on snow, ice, or slush-covered roads accounted for a combined 9 incidents.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 55-64 age group was the most represented, with 30 individuals, followed by the 65+ age group with 26 individuals. Among the 106 vehicles involved, Ford was the most frequent make with 23 vehicles. Chevrolet vehicles accounted for 20, and Toyota for 10.

The most frequently cited major cause of crashes was an animal on the roadway, contributing to 22 incidents. The second leading cause was a driver losing control of their vehicle, which was a factor in 17 crashes. Other significant causes included running off a straight road (7 crashes) and failure to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign (4 crashes).

The most common first harmful event was a collision with an animal, recorded in 22 crashes. This was followed by collisions with another vehicle in traffic, which occurred in 17 incidents. Run-off-road events were also prominent, with 13 crashes involving a ditch as the first harmful event and 8 resulting in an overturn or rollover.

The vast majority of crashes, 58 out of 82, occurred at non-intersection locations, with 50 of these happening on a standard road segment. In contrast, 18 crashes took place at intersections, including 10 at four-way intersections and 7 at T-intersections.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 48 of the vehicles. Light trucks and pickups were the second most frequent with 24 vehicles, followed by sport utility vehicles with 15. Motorcycles were involved in 4 crashes, and tractor/semi-trailers were involved in 3.

For the vehicles involved in crashes, the vast majority (84) were in areas with no traffic controls present. Stop signs were the traffic control device in place for 12 vehicles. Only one vehicle was noted in an area with a marked no-passing zone.

Frontal impacts were the most common area of damage, with 18 vehicles sustaining damage to the front center and another 16 to the front corners. Damage to the side of the vehicle was also significant, recorded for 24 vehicles. Rollovers likely account for the 9 vehicles with 'Top' as the most damaged area.

Within Van Buren County, Keosauqua had the highest number of reported crashes with 7. Bonaparte followed with 4 crashes, and Farmington recorded 3. Other municipalities with crashes included Cantril with 2, and both Calmar and Milton with 1 each.

Crashes were predominantly on paved roads, which accounted for 68 incidents. However, a notable portion, 14 crashes or approximately 17.1%, occurred on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt roads, reflecting the county's secondary road network.

While most drivers were recorded as 'apparently normal,' a specific condition was noted for 14 drivers involved in crashes. Ten drivers were suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. An additional 3 drivers were noted as being asleep or fatigued, and one was suspected of being under the influence of drugs or medication.

The estimated property damage was most frequently in the $1,500 to $7,500 range, which applied to 57 crashes. A further 21 crashes resulted in damage estimated between $7,500 and $25,000. Only one crash was estimated to have damage exceeding $25,000.

The vast majority of incidents, 58 out of 82 (70.7%), were single-vehicle, non-collision events, such as running off the road or overturning. Among multi-vehicle crashes, the most common type was a broadside collision, which occurred 6 times. Rear-end and same-direction sideswipe collisions each accounted for 5 crashes.

The predominant pre-crash action for vehicles was moving essentially straight, which was the case for 71 vehicles. Turning left was the action for 12 vehicles prior to impact. Other actions such as overtaking, backing, and negotiating a curve were each recorded for 4 vehicles.

Of the 145 people involved in crashes, the overwhelming majority, 131, were drivers. There were 11 passengers involved in these incidents. The remaining individuals included one pedestrian, one bicyclist, and one other non-motorist.

Across all 145 individuals involved in crashes, a total of 39 people sustained injuries. Of those injured, 12 suffered serious injuries, 14 had minor injuries, and 13 had possible injuries. No fatalities were recorded among any persons involved.

Among the individuals for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 17 were using both a shoulder and lap belt. Six individuals were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. Additionally, two people were using a DOT-compliant helmet.

A significant majority of crashes, 59 out of 82 (72%), involved only a single vehicle. Two-vehicle collisions accounted for 22 incidents. There was one crash reported that involved three vehicles.