946 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists accounted for all 5 fatalities and the vast majority of injuries, with 278 reported. In crashes involving vulnerable road users, no cyclists were injured or killed. One pedestrian sustained injuries, but no pedestrian fatalities were recorded in 2021.

Crashes in Logan County occurred most frequently on Fridays, with 171 incidents reported. The afternoon commute, particularly the 5 p.m. hour, was the daily peak for crashes with 79 events. While the majority of collisions (609) happened during daylight hours, a substantial number also occurred in dark conditions, including 218 on unlighted roadways.

The vast majority of crashes, 78.1% (739 incidents), resulted in no injuries. Injury-sustaining crashes, including those with possible, minor, or serious injuries, accounted for 21.4% of the total. There were 5 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in 5 total fatalities during this period.

Most crashes occurred in seemingly ideal conditions, with 62.1% (587) happening in clear weather and 72.5% (686) on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 64.4% of all incidents (609) took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions still played a role, with 97 crashes occurring during rain and 178 on wet roads.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 311 individuals, followed by the 16-20 age group with 248 individuals. Among the 1,522 vehicles involved in collisions, the most frequent makes were Honda (319 vehicles), Chevrolet (248 vehicles), and Ford (225 vehicles).

The first harmful event in most crashes, 681 incidents, occurred on the roadway itself. However, a notable portion of crashes were run-off-road events, with 148 occurring on the roadside and 66 on the shoulder. Combined, these crashes originating off the primary travel lanes represent 22.8% of all incidents.

The majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control device present, accounting for 1,132 units. Crashes at signalized intersections involved 198 vehicles, while those at intersections with stop signs involved 174 vehicles.

Among driver actions cited as contributing factors, driving off the road was the most common, attributed to 188 vehicles. This was followed by following too closely (175 vehicles) and failure to yield (143 vehicles). Unsafe speed was a factor for 40 vehicles, and running a red light was cited for 18 vehicles.

A total of 70 commercial trucks were involved in crashes in 2021. Of these, 45 were identified as semi-tractor trailers and 25 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles.

Crashes in 2021 involved a total of 21 motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. This included 17 motorcyclists, 3 bicyclists, and 1 pedestrian. Combined, these vulnerable road users and motorcyclists represent a group often associated with higher injury severity rates.

Collisions with animals accounted for 95 crashes, representing 10.0% of all incidents in the county. The vast majority of these, 88 crashes, involved deer. An additional 7 crashes were attributed to collisions with other types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 44 crashes, constituting 4.7% of the total for the year. Of these incidents, 35 were related to alcohol, 5 were related to drugs, and 4 involved a combination of both alcohol and drugs.

Beyond those noted as 'Apparently Normal,' several driver conditions were cited in crash reports. Impairment from medications, drugs, or alcohol was noted for 38 drivers. An additional 18 drivers were reported as having fallen asleep, fainted, or being fatigued, while 7 had a physical impairment.

Among the 1,457 drivers involved in crashes, 63 were noted as being distracted. The most common citation was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (31 drivers), followed by 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (16 drivers). Manually operating an electronic communication device like a phone was a factor for 7 drivers.

While most crashes occurred on straight and level roads, a significant number happened on roads with challenging geometry. Crashes on curves accounted for 13.4% of the total (127 incidents), and crashes on grades (both straight and curved) made up 35.9% of all incidents (340 crashes).

The highest concentration of crashes occurred in Bellefontaine, which saw 300 incidents, representing 31.7% of the county's total. The townships of Jefferson and Mcarthur followed, with 93 and 69 crashes, respectively. Stokes (52 crashes) and Perry (50 crashes) also recorded notable crash volumes.

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was driving straight ahead, which was reported for 896 vehicles, or 58.9% of the total. The next most frequent actions were slowing or stopping in traffic (188 vehicles) and making a left turn (105 vehicles).

The most common crash type was a single-vehicle collision, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 440 incidents or 46.5% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most frequent type with 187 incidents (19.8%), followed closely by rear-end collisions with 174 incidents (18.4%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 709 units recorded. Sport utility vehicles (308 units) and pick-up trucks (285 units) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and buses, accounted for 71 of the vehicles in collisions.

Of the 1,994 people involved in traffic crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 1,457 individuals (73.1%). Passengers (occupants) made up the second-largest group with 536 individuals (26.9%). A single pedestrian was also involved in a crash during this period.

A total of 1,994 people were involved in crashes, with the majority (1,679) sustaining no injuries. In total, 279 individuals were injured, including 52 with serious injuries, 136 with minor injuries, and 91 with possible injuries. Five fatalities were recorded among all persons involved.

Among vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 1,642 were using both a shoulder and lap belt. However, 147 individuals were reported as using no safety equipment at all, representing 7.4% of occupants. An additional 93 individuals were using various child restraint systems or other belt configurations.

The most common type of collision involved two vehicles, accounting for 507 incidents (53.6% of the total). Single-vehicle crashes were also very common, with 405 incidents making up 42.8% of all crashes. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less frequent, with 34 such incidents recorded.