970 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motor vehicle occupants accounted for all 6 fatalities and the vast majority of injuries (300). No cyclists were killed or injured. Two pedestrians sustained injuries in crashes, but there were no pedestrian fatalities recorded during this period.

Crash frequency in Auglaize County peaked on Fridays, which saw 165 incidents in 2021. The most common time for a crash was the 3 p.m. hour, with 74 occurrences. While crashes were distributed throughout the day, a slight majority, 507 out of 970 crashes, occurred during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes in 2021, 79.2% (768 incidents), resulted in no injuries. Injury-related crashes accounted for 20.2% of the total, with 15 classified as serious injury crashes. There were 6 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in a total of 6 fatalities.

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 61.3% (595 crashes) happening in clear weather and 78.6% (762 crashes) on dry roads. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 52.3% (507 incidents) of the total. Adverse weather played a role in a smaller fraction of incidents, with 89 crashes occurring during rain and 32 during snow.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 16-20 age group was most represented, with 263 individuals, followed by the 55-64 age group with 253 individuals. Among the 1,483 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (256 vehicles), Chevrolet (228 vehicles), and Honda (184 vehicles).

The first harmful event for most crashes, 783 incidents (80.7%), occurred on the primary roadway. A notable portion, 163 crashes or 16.8% of the total, were run-off-road events, with the first impact happening on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median. An additional 13 crashes occurred entirely outside the trafficway.

Analysis of traffic controls present at crash locations indicates that the majority of vehicles involved, 1,139 out of 1,483, were in areas with no traffic control device. Vehicles involved in crashes at locations with stop signs numbered 182, while 142 were at signalized intersections.

The most frequently cited contributing factors for drivers involved in crashes were "Following too Close / ACDA" (115 instances), "Failure to Yield" (113 instances), and "Drove off Road" (107 instances). Other significant factors included "Improper Backing" with 54 instances and "Unsafe Speed" with 51 instances.

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 105 incidents in 2021, representing 10.8% of all crashes. Of these, the majority (82 crashes) involved a semi-tractor trailer, while 23 crashes involved other types of commercial vehicles.

In 2021, there were 20 crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. This total includes 14 crashes with motorcyclists, 3 with pedestrians, and 3 with bicyclists. Combined, crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 6 incidents, or 0.6% of all crashes.

Animal-related collisions were a significant factor in 2021, comprising 267 incidents or 27.5% of all crashes in Auglaize County. The vast majority of these, 248 crashes, were strikes involving deer. An additional 19 crashes involved other types of animals.

Impairment was a noted factor in 44 crashes, representing 4.5% of the total for the year. Of these, 31 incidents were related to alcohol, 9 were related to drugs, and 4 involved a combination of both alcohol and drugs. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment may be under-reported.

Beyond normal driving conditions, several driver-specific conditions were noted. A total of 35 drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 17 drivers were reported as fatigued or having fallen asleep, and 5 had a physical impairment.

Among the 1,385 drivers involved in crashes, specific distractions were identified in a subset of cases. The most common reported distraction was an unspecified activity inside the vehicle (41 drivers), followed by a distraction outside the vehicle (14 drivers). Manually operating an electronic device like a phone was a factor for 10 drivers.

While the majority of crashes (817) occurred on straight, level roads, roadway geometry was a factor in some incidents. A total of 74 crashes (7.6%) happened on a curve, and 106 crashes (10.9%) occurred on a grade. Thirty of these crashes occurred on roads that were both curved and graded.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The city of St. Marys saw the highest volume with 192 crashes (19.8% of the total), followed by Duchouquet township with 174 crashes (17.9%) and the city of Wapakoneta with 152 crashes (15.7%). Together, these three locations accounted for over half of all crashes in the county.

The most common action immediately preceding a crash was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 931 of the 1,483 vehicles involved (62.8%). The next most frequent pre-crash actions were slowing or stopping in traffic (131 vehicles) and being parked (91 vehicles). Making a left turn was the pre-crash action for 83 vehicles.

The most prevalent crash type was single-vehicle incidents, categorized as "Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport," which accounted for 543 crashes or 56% of the total. Among multi-vehicle collisions, angle crashes were the most common, with 161 incidents (16.6%), followed by rear-end collisions with 122 incidents (12.6%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 648 of the 1,483 vehicles (43.7%). Sport Utility Vehicles (316) and Pick up trucks (256) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including 89 semi-tractors and 22 single-unit trucks, were present in a notable number of incidents.

Of the 1,908 individuals involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 1,385 people (72.6%). Passengers (occupants) made up the next largest group with 519 individuals (27.2%). A small number of pedestrians (4) were also involved in these traffic incidents.

Out of 1,908 people involved in crashes, 308 suffered some level of injury or were killed. This includes 6 fatalities (0.3% of all persons), 19 serious injuries, 184 minor injuries, and 99 possible injuries. The vast majority of individuals, 1,585 people, were not injured.

Safety equipment usage was high, with 1,561 individuals reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 87 individuals involved in crashes were reported as using no safety equipment, representing 4.6% of all participants. An additional 9 individuals were noted as using a helmet.

Crashes were almost evenly split between single-vehicle and two-vehicle incidents. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 487 events (50.2% of the total), while two-vehicle crashes numbered 458 (47.2%). Multi-vehicle pile-ups involving three or more vehicles were less common, with only 25 such incidents recorded.