234 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
MARCH 2021

A total of 84 individuals were injured in crashes, with no fatalities reported. The vast majority of those injured were motorists, accounting for 83 injuries. One pedestrian was also injured during this period, while no cyclists were reported as killed or injured.

Crashes in Allen County during March 2021 occurred most frequently on Wednesdays, which saw 44 incidents. The afternoon commute period was the most hazardous time of day, with a peak of 24 crashes occurring in the 3 p.m. hour. A smaller peak was also observed during the morning commute hours between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Of the 234 total crashes, 175 (74.8%) resulted in no injuries and were classified as property-damage-only incidents. The remaining 59 crashes involved injuries, including 6 with serious injuries, 25 with minor injuries, and 28 with possible injuries. There were no fatal crashes recorded during this period.

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 89.3% of incidents happening on dry roads and 73.5% in clear weather. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 64.5% of the total. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 13 crashes occurring in rain and 22 on wet road surfaces.

Analysis of the 507 persons involved in crashes shows the 35-44 age group was the most represented, with 71 individuals. Among the 412 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (86 vehicles), Chevrolet (57 vehicles), and Dodge (31 vehicles).

The first harmful event in 201 of the 234 crashes occurred on the roadway. A total of 19 crashes, or 8.1% of the total, originated off the primary travel lanes, including 10 on the roadside, 5 on the shoulder, and 4 in the median.

Analysis of traffic controls for units involved in crashes shows that the majority, 270 out of 411 units with known data, were at locations with no traffic control device. By comparison, 97 units were involved in crashes at signalized intersections and 39 were at locations with a stop sign.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers was 'Failure to Yield,' attributed to 47 vehicular units. This was followed closely by 'Following too Close / ACDA' with 43 units. Other common factors included 'Other Improper Action' (19 units) and 'Drove off Road' (16 units).

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 19 of the 234 total incidents, representing 8.1% of all crashes. Among these, 14 involved a semi-tractor trailer and 5 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

A total of 33 crashes, or 14.1% of all incidents, were attributed to collisions with animals. The vast majority of these, 31 crashes, involved deer, while 2 crashes involved other types of animals.

Among the 384 drivers involved, 14 were noted as having a condition other than 'Apparently Normal'. This included 7 drivers who were under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication, 2 who were ill, 2 who fell asleep or were fatigued, and 2 with a physical impairment.

While most drivers were listed as not distracted, 17 drivers were noted to have a specific distraction. The most common was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' with 9 instances, followed by 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' with 5 instances. Two drivers were manually operating an electronic communication device.

The majority of crashes occurred on straight, level road segments. However, 17 crashes (7.3% of total) happened on curves, and 16 crashes (6.8% of total) occurred on grades. Six of these incidents occurred on road segments that were both curved and graded.

Within Allen County, crashes were most concentrated in the city of Lima, which accounted for 99 incidents, or 42.3% of the county's total. The townships of American (36 crashes), Shawnee (23 crashes), and Bath (23 crashes) were the next most frequent locations for collisions.

The most common action by vehicles immediately prior to a crash was proceeding 'Straight Ahead,' which was the case for 229 of the 412 vehicles involved. The next most frequent pre-crash action was 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic,' involving 60 vehicles.

The most frequent type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 80 crashes or 34.2% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were most common with 60 incidents (25.6%), followed by rear-end collisions with 44 incidents (18.8%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 212 of the 412 total vehicles (51.5%). Sport Utility Vehicles (79) and Pick-up trucks (57) were the next most common. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and cargo vans, were involved in 24 instances.

Of the 507 people involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 384 individuals or 75.7% of the total. Passengers (occupants) comprised another 122 individuals (24.1%). A single pedestrian was also involved in one of the crashes.

Across all 507 individuals involved in these crashes, 84 people sustained some level of injury, representing 16.6% of all participants. This included 6 serious injuries, 37 minor injuries, and 41 possible injuries. No fatalities were recorded among any of the persons involved.

Among 475 occupants for whom safety equipment use was documented, 19 individuals (4.0%) were reported as not using any form of restraint. The vast majority, 429 people, were using both a shoulder and lap belt. Additionally, 17 children were secured in various child restraint systems.

The most common crash configuration involved two vehicles, which accounted for 161 of the 234 incidents (68.8%). Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, with 65 incidents representing 27.8% of the total. There were 8 crashes involving three or more vehicles.