742 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motor vehicle occupants accounted for the majority of casualties in 2021, with 5 motorists killed and 212 injured. Crashes also impacted vulnerable road users, resulting in 1 pedestrian fatality and 4 pedestrian injuries. No cyclist fatalities or injuries were reported in the dataset for this period.

Crash patterns in Mercer County during 2021 show a concentration on Fridays, which was the peak day with 132 crashes, followed by Mondays with 121. The single busiest hour for crashes was the 4 p.m. hour with 57 incidents. Crashes were distributed throughout the day, with 380 incidents occurring in daylight and 351 occurring during dark or dawn/dusk conditions.

The majority of crashes in 2021, 78.2% (580 incidents), resulted in no injuries and were limited to property damage. Crashes involving a possible, minor, or serious injury accounted for 21% of the total. There were 6 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in a total of 6 fatalities.

A majority of crashes in Mercer County occurred in what would be considered ideal driving conditions. Data shows that 79.5% of crashes happened on dry roads and 65.4% occurred in clear weather. Lighting conditions were more varied, with 380 crashes (51.2%) occurring in daylight and 312 crashes (42%) happening in dark conditions.

Analysis of the 1,495 people involved in crashes shows the 16-20 age group was the most represented with 238 individuals, followed by the 26-34 age group with 228 individuals. Of the 1,144 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Chevrolet (217 vehicles), Ford (175 vehicles), and Honda (103 vehicles).

The initial point of impact for most crashes, 639 out of 742, occurred on the primary travel roadway. A notable portion of incidents were run-off-road events, with a combined 83 crashes (11.2%) having their first harmful event on the shoulder, roadside, or in the median.

The majority of vehicles involved in crashes, 823 out of 1,144 (72%), were at locations with no traffic control device present. Crashes at intersections with stop signs involved 166 vehicles (14.5%), while those at signalized intersections involved 138 vehicles (12.1%).

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' attributed to 115 vehicles. 'Failure to Yield' was the second most common factor, noted for 107 vehicles, followed by 'Drove off Road' for 80 vehicles. Other significant factors included 'Improper Backing' (29 vehicles) and running a stop sign (19 vehicles).

A total of 73 commercial trucks were involved in crashes in Mercer County. Of these, 57 were identified as semi-tractor trailers, while the remaining 16 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles.

In 2021, crashes involved 8 motorcyclists, 5 pedestrians, and 2 bicyclists. Combined, there were 7 crashes involving vulnerable road users (pedestrians and bicyclists), representing just under 1% of all crashes.

Collisions with animals were a major factor in Mercer County crashes, accounting for 222 incidents, or 29.9% of the total for the year. The vast majority of these, 208 crashes, specifically involved deer, while an additional 14 crashes involved other types of animals.

Impairment was a suspected factor in 42 crashes, constituting 5.7% of all incidents in 2021. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 31 cases, drugs in 7 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 4 cases. These figures represent a baseline, as impairment can be under-reported in crash data.

Among all drivers, 53 were recorded with a specific adverse physical or mental condition at the time of the crash. The most common of these was 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol,' recorded for 27 drivers. Other reported conditions included 11 drivers who fell asleep or were fatigued and 10 with a physical impairment.

A specific distraction was identified for 58 out of 1,093 drivers involved in crashes. The most common reported distraction was an unspecified event inside the vehicle, noted for 29 drivers, followed by a distraction outside the vehicle for 14 drivers. Electronic device use was explicitly cited for 12 drivers.

The vast majority of crashes, 698 out of 742, occurred on straight and level sections of roadway. Roadway geometry played a role in a smaller number of incidents, with 24 crashes (3.2%) happening on curves and 28 crashes (3.8%) occurring on grades.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas, with the City of Celina accounting for 198 incidents, or 26.7% of the county's total. Following Celina, Jefferson Township recorded 99 crashes, Dublin Township had 44, and Marion Township had 40. These top four locations collectively represent 51.3% of all crashes in the county.

The most common action by vehicles prior to a crash was proceeding straight ahead, which was the case for 745 of the 1,144 vehicles involved (65.1%). A significant number of vehicles, 144 (12.6%), were slowing or stopped in traffic at the time of the collision. Turning maneuvers were also a factor, with 71 vehicles making a left turn just before impact.

Over half of all crashes in Mercer County, 408 incidents (55%), were single-vehicle events not involving a collision with another vehicle in transport, such as striking a fixed object or animal. Among crashes involving multiple vehicles, angle collisions were the most common type, accounting for 148 crashes (19.9%). Rear-end collisions were also frequent, with 114 incidents representing 15.4% of the total.

Passenger vehicles were involved in the vast majority of incidents, with passenger cars (427), sport utility vehicles (262), and pickup trucks (213) collectively accounting for 78.8% of all 1,144 vehicles in crashes. Commercial vehicles also represented a notable share, including 62 semi-tractors and 14 single-unit trucks.

Of the 1,495 individuals involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 1,093 people (73.1%). Passengers (occupants) made up the next largest group with 397 individuals (26.6%). A small number of non-motorists were involved, including 5 pedestrians.

An analysis of all 1,495 people involved in crashes shows that 1,260 individuals (84.3%) sustained no injuries. A total of 216 people were injured, representing 14.4% of all participants; this includes 24 serious injuries, 126 minor injuries, and 66 possible injuries. Six individuals sustained fatal injuries.

Among 1,489 motor vehicle occupants with known safety equipment status, the vast majority (1,248) were reported to have used a shoulder and lap belt. However, a notable 115 occupants, representing 7.7% of this group, were reported as using no safety equipment at the time of the crash. Additionally, 63 children were secured in various child restraint systems.

The 742 crashes were almost evenly split between single-vehicle and two-vehicle incidents. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 361 events (48.6%), while two-vehicle crashes accounted for 363 events (48.9%). Multi-vehicle incidents involving three or more vehicles were rare, comprising only 18 crashes (2.4%).