Princeton, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Princeton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Princeton and Bureau County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Bureau County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 489 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bureau County compares with Illinois
Bureau County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bureau County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bureau County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 129.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 84% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.6% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.5% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Bureau County sits below Illinois on garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Bureau County: 1 in 455 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.2%, against 1.4% for Illinois.
Overview
Since 2015, 489 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Bureau County. They injured 229 people and killed 20.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
With 88 truck crashes reported in Princeton since 2015, this page uses Bureau County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.3% of the year) and are lowest in August (4.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.3% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 6.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Princeton with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by 6th St (1), CR-1200 E (1) and SR-26 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.2% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Princeton fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 15.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Bureau County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2 |
| 6th St | 1 |
| CR-1200 E | 1 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bureau County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 308 |
| I-180 | 10 |
| Il-40 | 8 |
| N Ave | 8 |
| I-080 | 7 |
| SR-40 | 7 |
| N Il-26 | 5 |
| SR-34 | 5 |
Princeton at a glance
| Population | 7,667 |
| Land area | 8.2 sq mi |
| Density | 930 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61356) | $68,243 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61356) | $152,812 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bureau County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 31 | +120% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 38 | +23% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 43 | +12% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 43 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Princeton
How many truck crashes happen in Princeton?
Bureau County has had 489 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 229 people and killing 20.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Princeton?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Princeton: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Princeton?
Truck crashes in Bureau County peak in January, with 12.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Princeton?
Since 2015, Bureau County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Princeton compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Bureau County has 129.0 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Princeton?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.