274 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
SEPTEMBER 2021

During this period, one motorist was killed and 104 motorists were injured in crashes. Among vulnerable road users, two pedestrians were injured, and no pedestrians were killed. No bicyclists were reported as killed or injured in any crashes.

Crash occurrences in Allen County peaked on Wednesdays, which saw 66 incidents, and during the 4 p.m. hour, with 31 crashes. A significant portion of crashes, 193 out of 274, occurred during daylight hours. The morning commute from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. also represented a period of elevated crash frequency, with a combined 35 incidents.

Of the 274 crashes, 71.9% (197 incidents) were property-damage-only, with no reported injuries. The remaining crashes involved possible (13.5%), minor (11.7%), or serious (2.6%) injuries. One crash was classified as fatal, accounting for 0.4% of all incidents. The total number of fatalities may differ from the number of fatal crashes, as a single crash can result in multiple deaths, though in this period one crash resulted in one fatality.

The vast majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions. Specifically, 77.7% of crashes (213) happened in clear weather, 85.0% (233) on dry road surfaces, and 70.4% (193) in daylight. Crashes in adverse conditions included 33 in rain and 41 on wet roads.

Among the 625 people involved in crashes, the 16-20 age group was the most represented, with 112 individuals. Analysis of the 492 vehicles involved shows the most frequent makes were Ford (104 vehicles), Chevrolet (86 vehicles), and Dodge (44 vehicles). Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type, accounting for 242 of the vehicles in collisions.

The initial point of impact for most crashes was on the primary travel lanes, with 230 incidents occurring 'On Roadway'. A notable portion, 31 crashes, were classified as run-off-road events. These included 20 crashes on the roadside, 6 on the shoulder, and 5 in the median.

Analysis of traffic controls at crash locations indicates that a majority of vehicles (304 of 492) were involved in crashes at locations with 'No Control'. Crashes at signalized intersections involved 118 vehicles. Locations with stop signs accounted for crashes involving 47 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers was 'Following too Close / ACDA', attributed to 57 vehicles. This was followed by 'Failure to Yield' for 46 vehicles and 'Drove off Road' for 22 vehicles. Other notable factors included running a red light (14 vehicles) and running a stop sign (11 vehicles).

A total of 28 commercial trucks were involved in crashes during this period. Of these, 23 were identified as semi-tractor-trailers and 5 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles.

Impairment was a factor in 14 crashes, accounting for 5.1% of all incidents. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 9 cases and drugs were suspected in 5 cases. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment can be under-reported in crash data.

Beyond 'Apparently Normal', several driver conditions were noted at the time of the crashes. Twelve drivers were reported as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 6 drivers were noted as emotional, 3 were reported to have fallen asleep or been fatigued, and 3 had a physical impairment.

A total of 32 drivers were noted as being distracted. The most common distraction was 'Manually operating an electronic communication device,' which was cited for 11 drivers. Other specified distractions included 9 drivers distracted by something outside the vehicle and 8 distracted by something inside the vehicle.

The majority of crashes (244) occurred on straight, level road segments. Crashes on curves accounted for 14 incidents, while crashes on graded sections of roadway accounted for 20 incidents. Specifically, 10 crashes were on a level curve and 4 were on a graded curve.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas, with the city of Lima accounting for 124 crashes, or 45.3% of the county's total. The next most frequent locations were American with 40 crashes (14.6%), Shawnee with 28 crashes (10.2%), and Bath with 25 crashes (9.1%).

Prior to impact, the most common action for vehicles was driving 'Straight Ahead,' which described the action of 273 vehicles (55.5% of total). The second most frequent pre-crash action was 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic,' noted for 76 vehicles (15.4%). Making a left turn was the action for 40 vehicles involved in collisions.

The most frequent type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport', accounting for 93 crashes or 33.9% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most common, with 68 incidents (24.8%), followed closely by rear-end collisions with 63 incidents (23.0%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 242 of the 492 vehicles (49.2%). Sport Utility Vehicles were the second most common with 92 vehicles involved, followed by 70 pickup trucks. In total, 28 commercial trucks and buses were involved in collisions during this period.

Of the 625 individuals involved in crashes, the majority (454 people, or 72.6%) were drivers. Vehicle occupants accounted for another 169 individuals (27.0%). Two pedestrians were also involved in crashes during this period.

Across all 625 people involved in crashes, 514 individuals (82.2%) sustained no injuries. A total of 106 people were injured, including 10 with serious injuries, 47 with minor injuries, and 49 with possible injuries. One person sustained fatal injuries.

The majority of vehicle occupants, 491 individuals, were reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, a notable 47 people, representing 7.5% of all crash participants, were recorded as using no safety equipment. An additional 20 occupants were secured by a child restraint system or booster seat.

The most common crash configuration involved two vehicles, which accounted for 204 of the 274 total incidents (74.5%). Single-vehicle crashes were the next most frequent, with 63 incidents, making up 23.0% of the total. Seven crashes involved three vehicles.