246 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
APRIL 2021

During this period, there was one pedestrian fatality and three pedestrians injured in a total of four crashes involving pedestrians. Additionally, one motorist was killed and 119 were injured. No cyclists were reported killed or injured in the single bicycle-involved crash.

Crash patterns in Allen County show a concentration during the latter part of the work week, with Thursday being the peak day with 49 incidents. The afternoon commute hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. was the single busiest hour for crashes, recording 25 events. Overall, crashes were most frequent during daylight hours, which accounted for 184 of the 246 total incidents.

Of the 246 crashes, the majority (67.9%) resulted in no injuries. Injury-related crashes, including serious, minor, and possible injuries, accounted for 77 incidents. There were 2 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in a total of 2 fatalities.

The vast majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions. Crashes in clear weather accounted for 68.3% of the total, while 82.9% happened on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 184 out of 246 crashes (74.8%) took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were less common, with 22 crashes reported during rain and 41 on wet roads.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 16-20 age group was the most represented, with 96 individuals. Among the 423 vehicles involved, Ford (75 vehicles) and Chevrolet (74 vehicles) were the most frequent makes recorded in crash reports. Dodge was the third most common make with 33 vehicles involved.

The initial point of impact for most crashes (204 out of 246) occurred on the roadway itself. However, a notable number of incidents were run-off-road events, with a combined 30 crashes originating on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median. These run-off-road crashes represent 12.2% of all incidents.

Analysis of traffic controls present at crash locations shows that most vehicles involved (268 of 423) were at sites with no traffic control device. Vehicles involved in crashes at signalized intersections accounted for 97 instances. Crashes involving vehicles at locations with stop signs were recorded 41 times.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' attributed to 48 vehicles. 'Failure to Yield' was the second most common factor, noted for 36 vehicles involved in crashes. 'Drove off Road' was listed as a contributing circumstance for 29 vehicles.

Crashes involving commercial trucks were recorded in 12 instances, accounting for approximately 4.9% of all crashes in this period. Of these, 9 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while 3 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

Collisions with animals accounted for 19 crashes, or 7.7% of the total incidents in April. The vast majority of these, 17 crashes, involved collisions with deer. An additional 2 crashes were recorded as involving other types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 21 crashes, representing 8.5% of all incidents. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 14 cases, drugs in 5 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 2 cases. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment may be under-reported in official crash data.

While most drivers (336) were listed as 'Apparently Normal,' 31 drivers were recorded with a specific adverse condition. This includes 14 drivers noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 7 drivers had a physical impairment, and 6 were noted as being in an emotional state such as anger or distress.

Among the 393 drivers involved in crashes, 19 were noted as being distracted. The most common specified distraction was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle,' with 7 instances. Manually operating an electronic device like a phone was cited for 3 drivers, while another 2 were distracted by passengers.

The majority of crashes (212) occurred on straight, level sections of roadway. However, road geometry played a role in some incidents, with 19 crashes (7.7%) occurring on curves. An identical number of crashes, 19, also occurred on graded sections of road, both straight and curved.

The geographic distribution of crashes within Allen County was concentrated in a few key areas. The City of Lima saw the highest volume, with 112 crashes, accounting for 45.5% of the county's total. The townships of American and Bath followed, with 30 and 28 crashes respectively.

Prior to impact, the most common action for vehicles involved was 'Straight Ahead,' which accounted for 251 of the 423 units. A significant number of vehicles, 49, were either slowing or stopped in traffic at the time of the crash. Making a left turn was the third most frequent pre-crash action, recorded for 28 vehicles.

The most common type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 108 crashes or 43.9% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most frequent, with 54 incidents (22.0%), followed closely by rear-end collisions, which occurred 47 times (19.1%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 208 of the 423 vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (100) and Pick-up trucks (54) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including 11 semi-tractors and 6 single-unit trucks, were present in these incidents as well.

Of the 556 individuals involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 393 people or 70.7% of the total. Vehicle occupants (passengers) made up the next largest group with 159 individuals. Four pedestrians were also involved in crashes during this period.

Across all 556 people involved in crashes, 122 individuals sustained some level of injury, representing 21.9% of all participants. This included 13 serious injuries, 47 minor injuries, and 62 possible injuries. Two individuals suffered fatal injuries, while the majority, 427 people, were not injured.

Safety equipment usage was reported for 552 participants, with 439 individuals (79.5%) recorded as using both a shoulder and lap belt. A total of 20 individuals involved in crashes were documented as not using any safety equipment. Additionally, various child restraint systems were in use, including 13 forward-facing seats and 7 rear-facing seats.

The majority of incidents, 157 out of 246, were two-vehicle collisions, making up 63.8% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes were also common, accounting for 80 incidents or 32.5% of all crashes. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less frequent, with a total of 9 such events recorded.