574 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists comprised the large majority of individuals killed or injured in Pike County crashes, with 3 fatalities and 208 injuries. Vulnerable road users were also impacted, with 1 pedestrian killed and 3 pedestrians injured. No cyclist fatalities or injuries were recorded during this period.

Crash frequency in Pike County peaked on Thursdays, which saw 100 incidents throughout the year. The single most common hour for crashes was 3 p.m., with 50 incidents recorded. Collisions were more frequent during daylight hours, which accounted for 341 crashes, while 191 crashes occurred in dark conditions, either on unlighted or lighted roadways.

Of the 574 total crashes, 425 (74%) resulted in no injuries, being classified as property-damage-only incidents. The remaining 149 crashes involved some level of injury, including 30 with serious injuries, 76 with minor injuries, and 39 with possible injuries. There were 4 fatal crashes recorded, which resulted in a total of 4 fatalities.

The majority of crashes in 2021 occurred in favorable conditions. Approximately 58% of incidents (334 crashes) happened in clear weather, and 75% (430 crashes) occurred on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 341 crashes, or 59% of the total, took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 58 crashes occurring during rain and 107 on wet roads.

Among the 1,143 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented with 173 individuals, followed closely by the 16-20 and 35-44 age groups, each with 169 individuals. Of the 873 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (173), Chevrolet (162), and Toyota (61). Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type, involved in 401 incidents.

The initial point of impact for most crashes (403, or 70.2%) was on the roadway itself. However, a significant number of incidents involved vehicles leaving the travel lanes. In total, 154 crashes, representing 26.8% of all incidents, occurred off the primary road surface, including 129 on the roadside, 21 on the shoulder, and 4 in the median.

Data on traffic control devices present at crash locations indicates that the majority of units involved were at locations with no traffic controls. A total of 669 vehicle units were in crashes where no controls were present. In contrast, 121 units were involved in crashes at signalized locations and 81 units were at intersections controlled by a stop sign.

Among driver-related contributing factors, 'Drove off Road' was the most cited action, attributed to 121 units involved in crashes. The second most common factor was 'Following too Close / ACDA' with 87 units, followed by 'Failure to Yield' which was cited for 82 units.

A total of 46 crashes involved a commercial truck. Of these, 24 incidents involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 22 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

In 2021, there were 13 crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. These included 8 incidents with motorcyclists, 4 with pedestrians, and 1 with a bicyclist. The combined count of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists was 5 for the year.

Crashes involving animals accounted for 66 incidents in Pike County. The vast majority of these, 59 crashes, were strikes involving deer. An additional 7 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 46 crashes, representing 8% of all incidents in 2021. Of these, alcohol was suspected in 27 crashes, drugs were suspected in 16 crashes, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was suspected in 3 crashes.

While most drivers were listed as 'Apparently Normal', a number of crashes involved drivers with other reported conditions. A total of 46 drivers were noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 16 drivers were reported as having fallen asleep, fainted, or being fatigued.

Among the 840 drivers involved in crashes, 38 were identified with a specific distraction. The most common was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle,' cited for 20 drivers. This was followed by 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (8 drivers) and 'Manually operating an electronic communication device' (4 drivers).

The majority of crashes, 381 out of 574, occurred on straight and level sections of roadway. However, road geometry was a factor in a significant portion of incidents. Crashes on curves accounted for 118 incidents (20.6%), while crashes on grades (either straight or curved) accounted for 127 incidents (22.1%).

The highest concentration of crashes within the county occurred in Waverly, which recorded 116 incidents. This was followed by Pee Pee Township with 77 crashes and Newton Township with 49 crashes. Together, these three areas accounted for more than 42% of all crashes in Pike County.

The most common pre-crash action for the 840 drivers involved was 'Straight Ahead,' accounting for 530 drivers. The next most frequent actions were 'Negotiating a Curve' with 90 drivers, and 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' and 'Making Left Turn', each with 74 drivers.

Single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' were the most frequent type of incident, accounting for 306 crashes or 53.3% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most common, with 115 incidents (20.0%), followed by rear-end collisions with 81 incidents (14.1%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 401 units recorded. Sport Utility Vehicles (177 units) and Pick up trucks (176 units) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single unit trucks, and cargo vans, were involved in a total of 64 instances.

A total of 1,143 individuals were involved in crashes in Pike County. The majority of these were drivers, with 840 recorded. There were also 299 vehicle occupants (passengers) and 4 pedestrians involved in the incidents.

Out of 1,143 people involved in crashes, 4 individuals sustained fatal injuries and 211 sustained some level of non-fatal injury. This includes 34 people with serious injuries, 116 with minor injuries, and 61 with possible injuries. The remaining 908 individuals were not injured.

Among vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 911 were reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. In contrast, 88 individuals were reported as having used no safety equipment. Additionally, 48 occupants were secured by a child restraint system or booster seat.

Of the 574 crashes in 2021, 293 (51.1%) were single-vehicle incidents. Two-vehicle crashes were also common, accounting for 263 incidents (45.8%). Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less frequent, with only 18 such incidents recorded.