199 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, one motorist was killed and 68 were injured in crashes. No fatalities were recorded for pedestrians or cyclists. However, four pedestrians sustained injuries. There were no recorded injuries or fatalities involving bicyclists.

Crash frequencies peaked on Thursdays, which saw 33 incidents over the year. The single hour with the most crashes was from 1:00 PM to 1:59 PM, when 15 crashes occurred. Overall, a majority of collisions, 124 out of 199, happened during daylight hours.

Of the 199 total crashes, 69.3% (138 incidents) resulted in no injuries and were classified as property-damage-only. The remaining crashes involved injuries of varying severity, including one fatal crash. This single fatal incident resulted in one death.

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 60.3% (120 crashes) happening in clear weather and 63.8% (127 crashes) on dry road surfaces. Collisions during daylight hours accounted for 124 of the 199 total incidents. Adverse conditions included 32 crashes in the rain, 44 on wet roads, and 62 in dark or unlit conditions.

Among the 346 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 59 individuals. The most common vehicle makes involved in these incidents were Ford (58 vehicles), Chevrolet (57 vehicles), and Honda (25 vehicles).

Analysis of the first harmful event's location shows that 112 crashes, or 56.3%, occurred on the primary roadway. A significant portion of incidents were run-off-road events, with 38 crashes occurring on the shoulder and 31 on the roadside, together accounting for 34.7% of all crashes.

The vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control devices. Of the 288 vehicles involved in collisions, 245 were at locations with 'No Control'. In contrast, 22 vehicles were involved in crashes at signalized intersections and 17 at intersections with a stop sign.

The most common contributing factor attributed to drivers was 'Drove off Road,' cited for 63 vehicles. This was followed by 'Left of Center' (23 vehicles), 'Failure to Yield' (21 vehicles), and 'Following too Close / ACDA' (19 vehicles). Unsafe speed was a factor for 15 vehicles.

A total of 32 commercial vehicles were involved in crashes during this period. These included 15 semi-tractor trailers and 17 other types of commercial vehicles, such as single-unit trucks or cargo vans.

Crashes involved a total of 13 individuals classified as vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. This group included nine motorcyclists and four pedestrians. No bicyclists were involved in crashes during this period.

Impairment was a factor in 19 crashes, representing 9.5% of the total. Of the drivers identified as impaired, 16 were under the influence of alcohol, two were under the influence of drugs, and one was noted to be under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.

Beyond normal driving conditions, several driver states were recorded. Eight drivers were reported to have fallen asleep, fainted, or been fatigued, while 12 were noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, three drivers had a physical impairment and two were reported as being in an emotional state.

Among the 274 drivers involved in crashes, 19 were noted as having a specific distraction. These included distractions from outside the vehicle (7 drivers), inside the vehicle (6 drivers), and various activities involving an electronic device (5 drivers).

Road geometry played a role in a significant number of crashes. Collisions on curves occurred in 75 instances (37.7% of all crashes), while 63 crashes (31.7%) occurred on a grade, either straight or curved.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The top three locations, Woodsfield (38 crashes), Salem (21 crashes), and Center (20 crashes), collectively accounted for 79 of the 199 total crashes, representing 39.7% of the county's incidents.

The most common action drivers were taking just before a crash was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 141 of the 288 vehicles involved (49%). The second most frequent pre-crash action was negotiating a curve, involving 65 vehicles (22.6%).

Single-vehicle crashes were the predominant type of incident, with 122 crashes (61.3%) classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport'. The most common type of multi-vehicle crash was an angle collision, which occurred in 28 incidents (14.1%).

Of the 288 vehicles involved in crashes, passenger cars were the most common type, accounting for 97 vehicles. Pick-up trucks (71 vehicles) and Sport Utility Vehicles (63 vehicles) were the next most frequent types involved.

A total of 346 people were involved in crashes, with drivers being the largest group at 274 individuals (79.2%). The remaining persons included 68 vehicle occupants (19.7%) and four pedestrians (1.2%).

Among the 346 people involved in crashes, 73 individuals (21.1%) were either injured or killed. This includes one fatality, 10 serious injuries, 36 minor injuries, and 26 possible injuries. The remaining 270 individuals were not injured.

Safety equipment usage was recorded for most participants. While 279 individuals used both a shoulder and lap belt, 27 people were documented as using no safety equipment at all. Another six motorcyclists were recorded as using a helmet.

The majority of incidents were single-vehicle crashes, with 114 such events making up 57.3% of the total. Two-vehicle crashes were the next most common, with 81 incidents (40.7%). A small number of crashes, four in total, involved three vehicles.