999 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists comprised the entirety of the 9 traffic fatalities recorded in 2021. Additionally, 313 of the 314 total injuries were sustained by motorists. One pedestrian was injured in a crash during this period, while no cyclists were reported as killed or injured.

Crash occurrences in Clinton County peaked on Wednesdays, with 157 incidents recorded. The most frequent time for crashes was the 4 p.m. hour, which saw 70 events. While a majority of crashes (59.8%) occurred during daylight hours, a substantial number, 327 incidents, happened in dark conditions.

The vast majority of crashes, 75.8% or 757 incidents, resulted in no injuries. Injury-related crashes accounted for 23.3% of the total, while 9 crashes (0.9%) were fatal. These 9 fatal crashes led to the deaths of 9 individuals.

A significant majority of crashes happened in favorable conditions, with 65.1% occurring in clear weather and 78.3% on dry road surfaces. Correspondingly, 59.8% of incidents took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were also a factor, with 108 crashes occurring during rain and 177 on wet roads.

Among the 2,023 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, accounting for 311 individuals, followed by the 16-20 age group with 289 individuals. Of the 1,544 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Chevrolet (298), Ford (250), and a tie between Toyota and Honda (106 each).

The first harmful event in 754 crashes, or 75.5% of the total, occurred on the roadway itself. A significant portion of incidents, 224 crashes (22.4%), were run-off-road events, with the first harmful event taking place on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median.

Analysis of the 1,544 vehicles in crashes shows that a majority, 1,108 vehicles, were involved in incidents at locations with no traffic control devices present. For comparison, 282 vehicles were in crashes at locations with a traffic signal, and 142 were at locations controlled by a stop sign.

Among driver-related actions contributing to crashes, the most common was 'Drove off Road,' cited for 167 vehicles. This was followed by 'Following too Close / ACDA' (Assured Clear Distance Ahead) for 145 vehicles and 'Failure to Yield' for 113 vehicles. 'Unsafe Speed' was a factor for another 67 vehicles.

Commercial trucks were involved in 94 crashes, representing 9.4% of all incidents in the county. Of these, 74 crashes involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 20 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

A total of 17 crashes involved motorcyclists or vulnerable road users. These included 13 crashes with motorcyclists, 2 with bicyclists, and 2 with pedestrians. Combined, the 4 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists represent a key area of focus for traffic safety.

Crashes involving animals accounted for 195 incidents, or 19.5% of the total for the year. The vast majority of these, 182 crashes, were strikes involving deer, while 13 crashes involved other types of animals.

A total of 64 crashes, or 6.4% of all incidents, were recorded as involving an impaired driver. Among the 64 drivers identified as impaired, 34 were under the influence of alcohol, 22 were under the influence of drugs, and 8 were noted to have used both alcohol and drugs.

Beyond normal driving conditions, several specific driver states were noted among the 1,483 drivers involved in crashes. A total of 58 drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 20 drivers were reported to have fallen asleep, fainted, or been fatigued, while illness was cited for 9 drivers.

Among the 1,483 drivers involved in crashes, specific distractions were identified for a subset. The most cited distraction was an 'other distraction inside the vehicle' for 34 drivers, followed by an 'other distraction outside the vehicle' for 15 drivers. Manually operating an electronic communication device was noted for 9 drivers.

The majority of crashes (73.9%) occurred on straight, level sections of road. However, road geometry played a role in a notable number of incidents, with 10.2% of crashes (102) happening on curves and 19.6% (196) occurring on grades.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas, with the city of Wilmington accounting for 250 incidents, or 25.0% of the county's total. The next highest volumes were seen in Union with 146 crashes, Chester with 102 crashes, and Liberty with 81 crashes.

Of the 1,544 vehicles involved in crashes, the most common pre-crash action was 'Straight Ahead,' reported for 955 vehicles. The next most frequent actions were 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' for 163 vehicles and 'Making Left Turn' for 120 vehicles.

The most common type of crash was 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 548 incidents or 54.9% of the total. Among crashes involving multiple vehicles, angle collisions were the most frequent type, with 189 incidents (18.9%), followed by rear-end collisions with 136 incidents (13.6%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 738 of the 1,544 vehicles (47.8%). Sport Utility Vehicles (318) and Pick-up trucks (249) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and buses, were involved in 8.5% of incidents.

Among the 2,023 individuals involved in traffic incidents, 1,483 (73.3%) were drivers. Passengers, or occupants, accounted for another 538 individuals (26.6%). A small fraction, 2 individuals (0.1%), were pedestrians.

Of the 2,023 people involved in crashes, 1,691 (83.6%) sustained no injuries. A total of 314 individuals were injured, representing 15.5% of all persons involved. Fatal injuries were recorded for 9 individuals, accounting for 0.4% of the total.

Among vehicle occupants, 1,719 individuals were reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 113 individuals were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. An additional 74 children were secured in a child restraint system, including forward-facing, rear-facing, and booster seats.

Crashes were nearly evenly split between single-vehicle and two-vehicle incidents. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 491 events (49.2% of the total), while 478 crashes (47.8%) involved two vehicles. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less common, making up 3.0% of all incidents.