Elk Prairie, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk Prairie: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk Prairie and Jefferson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jefferson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 796 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Illinois
Jefferson County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 182.8 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 3.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 70% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.2% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Jefferson County sits below Illinois on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
Jefferson County at a glance: 1 in 244 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.4%, vs 1.4% in Illinois.
Overview
Since 2015, 796 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jefferson County. They injured 367 people and killed 38.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
Elk Prairie had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Jefferson County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.6% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.6% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.9%).
5.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-57 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). Next come I-64 (2), SR-142 (1) and SR-37 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.5% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
Route planning tips for Elk Prairie fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Look at alternatives to I-57 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 8 |
| I-64 | 2 |
| SR-142 | 1 |
| SR-37 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 354 |
| I-64 | 151 |
| I-057 | 20 |
| Broadway | 19 |
| I-064 | 7 |
| Veterans Memorial Dr | 6 |
| E Lynchberg Rd | 6 |
| Broadway St | 6 |
Elk Prairie at a glance
| Population | 671 |
| Land area | 27.5 sq mi |
| Density | 24 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 31 | +114% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 51 | +67% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 72 | +42% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 72. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk Prairie
How common are truck crashes in Elk Prairie?
Jefferson County has had 796 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 367 people and killing 38.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Elk Prairie?
NHTSA data shows I-57 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elk Prairie since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Elk Prairie?
January has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 11.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elk Prairie?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
How does Elk Prairie compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 182.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Elk Prairie?
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.