815 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, all 6 traffic fatalities in Crawford County were motorists, and an additional 239 motorists sustained injuries. There were no pedestrian or cyclist fatalities recorded. Four pedestrians were injured in crashes, while no cyclists were reported as injured.

Crash occurrences in Crawford County peaked on Mondays, with 139 incidents, and during the 6 p.m. hour, which saw 67 crashes. Analysis of lighting conditions shows that 457 crashes (56.1%) occurred during daylight hours. Crashes in dark conditions accounted for 279 incidents, with the majority of these (222) happening on unlighted roadways.

The majority of crashes in Crawford County, 78.5% (640 incidents), resulted in no injuries. Injury-sustaining crashes, including serious, minor, and possible injuries, accounted for 20.8% of the total. There were 6 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in 6 total fatalities.

The vast majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions, with 67.9% (553) happening in clear weather and 77.5% (632) on dry road surfaces. Daylight conditions were present for 457 crashes (56.1%). Crashes in adverse weather included 54 in rain and 40 in snow, while 119 crashes occurred on wet roads and 54 on roads with snow or ice.

Among the 1,570 individuals involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 241 people. An analysis of the 1,234 vehicles involved shows that Chevrolet was the most frequent make, accounting for 257 vehicles. Ford (204 vehicles) and Dodge (91 vehicles) were the next most common makes.

The initial harmful event for most crashes, 695 incidents, occurred on the roadway. A total of 94 crashes, or approximately 11.5% of the total, began off the primary travel lanes. These run-off-road events included 68 crashes on the roadside, 23 on the shoulder, and 3 in the median.

The majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control device, accounting for 922 vehicles. Crashes at intersections with traffic signals involved 123 vehicles, while those at locations with stop signs involved 175 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for vehicles in crashes was 'Failure to Yield,' attributed to 122 vehicles. This was followed by 'Drove off Road' (88 vehicles) and 'Following too Close / ACDA' (87 vehicles). 'Unsafe Speed' was noted as a factor for 34 vehicles involved in crashes.

A total of 47 commercial trucks were involved in crashes in 2021. Of these, 35 were identified as semi-tractor trailers and 12 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles. These vehicles were involved in crashes that represent a key area of focus due to the potential for high-severity outcomes.

Crashes involved vulnerable road users or motorcyclists in 20 incidents. This included 11 crashes with motorcyclists, 5 with bicyclists, and 4 with pedestrians. Combined, crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 9 incidents, or 1.1% of all crashes in the county.

Collisions with animals were a significant factor in Crawford County, accounting for 211 crashes, or nearly 26% of the total for the year. The vast majority of these incidents, 202 crashes, involved deer. An additional 9 crashes were attributed to collisions with other animals.

Impairment was a factor in 48 crashes, representing 5.9% of all incidents. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 25 cases, drugs in 17 cases, and a combination of both in 6 cases. These figures represent a minimum baseline, as impairment can be under-reported.

Beyond those noted as 'Apparently Normal', 60 drivers were recorded with a specific physical or mental condition. This included 34 drivers noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol, and 12 drivers who reportedly fell asleep, fainted, or were fatigued. Other noted conditions included physical impairment (6 drivers), illness (4), and emotional distress (4).

Excluding drivers listed as 'Not Distracted' or 'Unknown', a specific distraction was identified for 50 drivers. The most common was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (22 drivers), followed by 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' and 'Passenger' (10 drivers each). Manually operating an electronic communication device was cited for 5 drivers.

While most crashes (627) occurred on straight, level road segments, a notable number happened on more challenging alignments. Crashes on curves accounted for 56 incidents (6.9% of total), and crashes on grades accounted for 153 incidents (18.8% of total). Specifically, 22 crashes occurred on segments that were both curved and graded.

The geographic distribution of crashes within Crawford County was concentrated in a few key areas. The City of Bucyrus saw the highest number of incidents with 202 crashes, representing 24.8% of the county's total. The City of Galion followed with 133 crashes (16.3%), and Jefferson Township had 67 crashes (8.2%).

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was 'Straight Ahead,' which was reported for 800 vehicles, or 64.8% of the total. The next most frequent actions were 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' (87 vehicles) and 'Parked' (84 vehicles). Vehicles making a left turn were involved in 67 incidents.

The dominant crash pattern was single-vehicle incidents, classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 440 crashes, or 54% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most common type with 159 incidents (19.5%), followed by rear-end collisions with 93 incidents (11.4%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 556 units (45.1%). Sport Utility Vehicles (283 units) and Pick-up trucks (213 units) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and buses, were involved in 69 incidents, making up 5.6% of the total vehicles.

Of the 1,570 people involved in crashes, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 1,143 individuals (72.8%). Vehicle occupants (passengers) made up the second-largest group with 423 individuals (26.9%). A total of 4 pedestrians were involved in these incidents.

Across all 1,570 individuals involved in crashes, 243 people sustained some level of injury, representing 15.5% of the total. This included 40 serious injuries, 119 minor injuries, and 84 possible injuries. Six individuals suffered fatal injuries, while the majority, 1,314 people (83.7%), were not injured.

Among 1,483 occupants where restraint use was specified, 141 individuals (9.5%) were recorded as not using any safety equipment. The most commonly used restraint was the shoulder and lap belt, reported for 1,254 individuals. Additionally, 57 individuals were secured by a child restraint system or booster seat.

Crashes in Crawford County were nearly evenly split between single-vehicle and two-vehicle incidents. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 410 incidents (50.3% of the total), while two-vehicle crashes numbered 392 (48.1%). Multi-vehicle incidents were less common, with 12 crashes involving three vehicles and one crash involving four vehicles.