Sandwich, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sandwich: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sandwich and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 481 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Illinois
DeKalb County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.3% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 20% below the state |
DeKalb County sits below Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for DeKalb County: 1 in 33 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.1%, against 1.4% for Illinois.
Overview
Police reported 481 crashes involving commercial trucks in DeKalb County since 2015: 269 people were injured and 22 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
Sandwich had 11 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use DeKalb County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 11.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.0%.
November through March accounts for 40.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.1% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
SR-71 leads within 10 miles of Sandwich with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-23 (2), SR-47 (2) and CR-9 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Sandwich fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 27.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 10.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-71 | 3 |
| SR-23 | 2 |
| SR-47 | 2 |
| CR-9 | 1 |
| East Sandwich Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-88 | 56 |
| Peace Rd | 26 |
| State Rte 23 | 17 |
| E Lincoln Hwy | 15 |
| Perry Rd | 13 |
| S Peace Rd | 11 |
| State Rte 64 | 11 |
| Glidden Rd | 9 |
Sandwich at a glance
| Population | 7,299 |
| Land area | 4.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,541 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60548) | $82,957 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60548) | $253,432 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 15 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 37 | +142% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 38 | +3% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 44 | +16% | 3.2 |
In the 1990s about 15 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 44. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sandwich
How common are truck crashes in Sandwich?
DeKalb County has had 481 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 269 people and killing 22.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Sandwich?
NHTSA data shows SR-71 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Sandwich since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Sandwich?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in July, with 11.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sandwich?
Since 2015, DeKalb County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Sandwich compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, DeKalb County has 41.0 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Sandwich?
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.