329 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
OCTOBER 2021

Of the 147 people killed or injured, motorists comprised the largest group with 3 fatalities and 137 injuries. There were no pedestrian or cyclist fatalities during this period. However, 7 pedestrians were injured in collisions.

Crashes peaked on Fridays, which saw 82 incidents, and during the 3 p.m. hour, which recorded 31 crashes. Overall, 56% of crashes (185) occurred during daylight hours. The afternoon commute, particularly between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., represented a high-frequency period with 79 total crashes.

The vast majority of crashes, 72.3% (238 incidents), resulted in no injuries. Injury-involved crashes accounted for 26.7% of the total, including 5 serious injury crashes and 44 minor injury crashes. Three separate crashes were fatal, leading to a total of three fatalities for the month.

The majority of collisions occurred in ideal driving conditions, with 52% on clear days and 72% on dry road surfaces. Over half of the incidents (185) happened in daylight. However, adverse conditions were still a factor, as 60 crashes (18%) occurred during rain and 92 crashes (28%) took place on wet roads.

Among the 733 individuals involved in crashes, the 16-20 and 35-44 age groups were the most represented, each with 104 people. Of the 550 vehicles involved, passenger cars were the most common type at 264, followed by sport utility vehicles at 120. The most frequent vehicle makes noted in crash reports were Ford (86 vehicles), Chevrolet (81), and Honda (53).

The first harmful event for most crashes, 280 out of 329, occurred on the roadway itself. A notable portion, approximately 12.8% or 42 incidents, were classified as run-off-road crashes, with the initial impact happening on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median.

Analysis of the 548 vehicle units with traffic control data shows that 65% were involved in crashes at locations with no traffic control device present. Crashes at signalized intersections involved 135 units (24.6% of the total), while those at stop signs involved 47 units (8.6%).

Among driver actions cited as contributing factors, 'Following too Close / ACDA' was the most common, noted for 71 vehicle units. 'Failure to Yield' was the second-leading factor, attributed to 52 units, followed by 'Drove off Road,' which was cited for 27 units.

Commercial trucks were involved in at least 23 incidents during this period. Of these, 14 involved a semi-tractor trailer and 9 involved other types of commercial vehicles. These crashes represent approximately 7% of all collisions in the county for the month.

A total of 11 crashes involved a vulnerable road user or a motorcyclist. This included 6 crashes with pedestrians, 4 with motorcyclists, and 1 with a bicyclist. Combined, crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 7 incidents, or 2.1% of the monthly total.

Collisions with animals accounted for 63 crashes, representing a significant 19.1% of all incidents in October. The vast majority of these, 60 crashes, involved deer. This highlights a specific seasonal hazard for drivers in the county.

Impairment was a factor in 15 crashes, accounting for 4.6% of all incidents. Of the 15 drivers identified as impaired, 9 were under the influence of alcohol, 3 were under the influence of drugs, and 3 were noted to have used both alcohol and drugs.

Among 520 drivers with condition data, 23 were reported to have an adverse physical or mental condition. This included 14 drivers noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol, and 5 drivers who reportedly fell asleep, fainted, or were fatigued.

Among 520 drivers, 33 were noted as being distracted at the time of the crash. The most common specified distractions were 'other distraction inside the vehicle' (14 drivers) and 'other distraction outside the vehicle' (10 drivers). Four drivers were reported to be manually operating an electronic communication device.

The vast majority of crashes (282) occurred on straight and level sections of roadway. However, roadway geometry was a factor in some incidents, with 23 crashes (7.0%) occurring on curves and 31 crashes (9.4%) occurring on grades.

The City of Lima accounted for the largest share of crashes with 104 incidents, representing 31.6% of the county's total. The Township of Bath followed with 52 crashes (15.8%), and the Township of Shawnee had 40 crashes (12.2%). These three municipalities comprised over 59% of all crashes in Allen County for the period.

Analysis of pre-crash actions for 550 vehicles shows that the most common maneuver was driving straight ahead, which accounted for 307 units (55.8%). The next most frequent action was slowing or stopping in traffic, reported for 83 units (15.1%).

Single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' were the most frequent type, accounting for 147 incidents or 44.7% of the total. For multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions and rear-end collisions were equally common, each accounting for 63 incidents (19.1%).

Passenger cars were the most prevalent vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 264 of the 550 vehicles (48.0%). Sport utility vehicles (120 units) and pickup trucks (77 units) were the next most common. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, buses, and single-unit trucks, were involved in 30 instances.

Of the 733 people involved in collisions, the majority were drivers, accounting for 520 individuals (70.9%). Passengers made up the next largest group with 206 individuals (28.1%), while 7 pedestrians were also involved in crashes.

Among the 733 individuals involved in crashes, 147 people sustained some level of injury or were killed. This included 3 fatalities, 6 serious injuries, 67 minor injuries, and 71 possible injuries. The remaining 575 individuals were not injured.

Among vehicle occupants with reported safety equipment usage, 47 individuals, or 6.5% of the 726 with data, were not using any form of restraint. The majority of occupants (601) were reported to be using both a shoulder and lap belt.

Two-vehicle collisions were the most common scenario, accounting for 190 crashes (57.8%). Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, with 124 incidents representing 37.7% of the total. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less common, occurring in 15 instances.