207 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
JUNE 2021

In this period, one motorist was killed and 93 motorists were injured. There were no reported fatalities or injuries involving pedestrians or cyclists. All recorded casualties involved occupants of motor vehicles.

Crash analysis by time reveals specific patterns. Mondays were the most frequent day for crashes, with 35 incidents recorded. The single busiest hour was 3 p.m., which saw 24 crashes. Overall, a significant majority of crashes, 156 out of 207, occurred during daylight hours.

The data indicates that 72.5% of all crashes (150 incidents) resulted in no injuries. Injury-related crashes, including serious, minor, and possible injuries, accounted for 27.1% of the total. One fatal crash was recorded during this period, though the total number of fatalities may differ as a single incident can result in multiple deaths.

The majority of crashes occurred under ideal environmental conditions. Specifically, 67.1% of crashes happened in clear weather, 86.0% on dry road surfaces, and 75.4% during daylight hours. Crashes in the rain were reported in 17 instances, and 26 crashes occurred on wet roads.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 79 individuals, followed by the 16-20 age group with 63 individuals. Among the 362 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (63 vehicles), Chevrolet (61 vehicles), and Honda (40 vehicles).

The first harmful event in most crashes, 170 out of 207 incidents (82.1%), occurred on the roadway itself. A total of 32 crashes, or 15.5% of the total, were initiated off the primary travel lanes, including incidents on the roadside, shoulder, median, or outside the trafficway.

Analysis of traffic controls present at crash locations indicates that for 221 of the 362 vehicles involved, no traffic control device was present. Signalized intersections were associated with 99 vehicles involved in crashes, while stop signs were present for 34 vehicles.

The most commonly cited contributing factor for drivers was "Following too Close / ACDA," noted in 38 instances. This was followed by "Failure to Yield" with 25 instances and "Drove off Road" with 21 instances. "Improper Backing" was also a notable factor, contributing to 13 incidents.

Commercial trucks were involved in 20 crashes, accounting for 9.7% of all incidents in this period. Of these, 12 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 8 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

Collisions with animals accounted for 25 crashes, or 12.1% of the total incidents. The vast majority of these, 24 crashes, involved deer. One additional crash involved another type of animal.

Beyond 'Apparently Normal,' specific driver conditions were noted for 10 drivers. Seven drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 2 drivers were reported as having fallen asleep or being fatigued, and 1 driver was noted as emotional.

A specific distraction was identified for 20 drivers involved in crashes. The most common was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle,' reported for 8 drivers. Manually operating an electronic device like texting or dialing was noted for 4 drivers, and distraction from outside the vehicle was a factor for 5 drivers.

Most crashes (182 out of 207) occurred on straight, level road segments. However, 15 crashes (7.2%) occurred on curves, and another 15 crashes (7.2%) occurred on grades. Five of these incidents happened at locations with both a curve and a grade.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The City of Lima accounted for the largest share, with 83 crashes, representing 40.1% of the county's total. The next most frequent locations were American with 26 crashes, Perry with 18, and Bath with 17.

Analysis of driver actions prior to collision shows that the majority of vehicles, 187 out of 362 (51.7%), were moving straight ahead. The second most common pre-crash action was slowing or stopping in traffic, which was reported for 47 vehicles (13.0%). Making a left turn was the action for 29 vehicles involved in crashes.

The most common type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 83 crashes or 40.1% of the total. Among multi-vehicle collisions, angle crashes were the most frequent, with 51 incidents (24.6%), followed by rear-end collisions with 39 incidents (18.8%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 211 of the 362 vehicles (58.3%). Sport Utility Vehicles (56) and Pick up trucks (42) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single unit trucks, were involved in at least 16 crashes.

A total of 455 individuals were involved in these crashes. The majority of these individuals were drivers, accounting for 340 people (74.7%). The remaining 115 people (25.3%) were vehicle occupants or passengers.

Of the 455 people involved in crashes, one individual sustained a fatal injury. A total of 93 people, or 20.4% of all participants, suffered some level of injury, ranging from possible to serious. The largest group, 352 people (77.4%), were not injured.

The majority of vehicle occupants, 353 people, were reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 28 individuals, representing 6.2% of all people involved, were recorded as using no safety equipment. An additional 24 individuals were secured in child restraint systems.

The most common configuration was a two-vehicle collision, which occurred in 132 out of 207 incidents (63.8%). Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 64 incidents, or 30.9% of the total. There were also 10 crashes involving three vehicles and one crash involving four vehicles.