345 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

All 4 fatalities and all 116 injuries recorded in Carroll County during 2021 were sustained by motorists. No fatalities or injuries were reported for pedestrians or bicyclists in this dataset for the period.

Crashes occurred most frequently on Thursdays, with 66 incidents recorded. The single busiest hour was 11 a.m., which saw 28 crashes. Overall, collisions were concentrated during daylight hours, with 216 crashes (62.6%) happening in the daytime, and spikes were evident during morning and afternoon commute periods.

The majority of crashes, 247 incidents or 71.6%, resulted in no injuries and were classified as property-damage-only. Collisions involving injuries accounted for 94 crashes, while 4 crashes were fatal. These 4 fatal crashes resulted in a total of 4 fatalities, as a single crash can involve one or more persons killed.

Most crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 64.6% (223) happening in clear weather and 74.2% (256) on dry road surfaces. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 216 incidents (62.6%). For comparison, rain was a factor in 31 crashes, and wet roads were present in 55 incidents.

Among the 639 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented with 97 individuals, followed closely by the 16-20 age group with 93 individuals. The most frequent vehicle makes involved in collisions were Ford (111 vehicles), Chevrolet (95 vehicles), and Dodge (34 vehicles).

While 215 crashes had their first harmful event on the roadway, a significant number were run-off-road incidents. A total of 128 crashes, or 37.1% of the total, occurred off the primary travel lanes, with the first impact happening on the roadside (61), shoulder (38), or outside the trafficway (29).

The vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control present, accounting for 424 of 507 units with data. For comparison, crashes at locations with traffic signals involved 42 vehicles, and those at intersections with stop signs involved 35 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing actions by drivers were driving off the road (72 units), failure to yield (53 units), and following too closely (43 units). Combined, these three improper actions were attributed to vehicles in over half of the instances where a factor was determined.

A total of 51 commercial vehicles were involved in crashes during this period, representing approximately 10% of all vehicles in collisions. These included 25 semi-tractor trailers and 26 other types of commercial vehicles, such as single-unit trucks or cargo vans.

During this period, crashes involved 13 motorcyclists and one pedestrian. No crashes involving bicyclists were recorded. These incidents highlight the risks faced by non-motorist road users and motorcyclists.

Crashes involving animals accounted for 21 incidents, or 6.1% of the county's total. The vast majority of these collisions, 19 crashes, were strikes involving deer, a common hazard in the region.

Impairment was identified as a factor in 31 crashes, which constitutes 9% of all incidents. Alcohol was the primary substance in 25 of these cases, with drugs suspected in 4 cases and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 2 cases.

Beyond impairment, other driver conditions were noted in 42 instances. These included 11 drivers who fell asleep, fainted, or were fatigued, and 24 drivers who were determined to be under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol.

Among drivers for whom distraction information was available, 34 were noted as being distracted. The most common sources were unspecified distractions inside the vehicle (17 drivers) or outside the vehicle (12 drivers). One driver was recorded for manually operating an electronic communication device.

Road geometry was a significant feature of crash locations, with 247 incidents (71.6%) occurring on a grade. Additionally, 133 crashes (38.6%) happened on a curve, indicating that sloped and curved roadways were common sites for collisions.

The geographic distribution of crashes was most concentrated in the townships of Brown, with 53 incidents, and Carrollton, with 52 incidents. Together, these two areas accounted for just over 30% of the county's total crashes. Harrison township had the third-highest volume with 35 crashes.

The most common vehicle action immediately prior to a collision was driving straight ahead, which was reported for 274 vehicles (53.9%). The next most frequent actions were negotiating a curve (67 vehicles) and slowing or stopping in traffic (50 vehicles).

Single-vehicle crashes were the predominant collision type, accounting for 193 incidents or 55.9% of the total. Among crashes involving more than one vehicle, angle collisions were the most common pattern, with 57 incidents recorded.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 198 units. However, light trucks, including 118 pickups and 115 sport utility vehicles, collectively represented a larger share of the 508 vehicles involved in collisions.

Of the 639 individuals involved in traffic crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 494 people or 77.3% of the total. Passengers made up the next largest group with 143 individuals (22.4%), while two people were recorded as pedestrians.

Among all 639 people involved in crashes, 80.6% (515 individuals) were not injured. A total of 116 people sustained some level of injury, from possible to serious, while 4 individuals, representing 0.6% of all persons involved, suffered fatal injuries.

Safety belt usage was high, with 492 occupants reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 58 individuals, or 9.1% of those with available data, were recorded as using no safety equipment at the time of their crash.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most frequent type of incident, with 188 crashes representing 54.5% of the total. Two-vehicle collisions were also common, accounting for 152 crashes (44.1%), while incidents involving three or more vehicles were rare.