Bell Plain, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bell Plain: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bell Plain and Marshall County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Marshall County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 172 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marshall County compares with Illinois
Marshall County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marshall County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marshall County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 130.6 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 56% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 57.8% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 20.5% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Marshall County has lower values than Illinois for garbage-truck share and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Marshall County: 18.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Overview
Since 2015, 172 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Marshall County. They injured 86 people and killed 5.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 24 days.
Only 4 truck crashes were reported in Bell Plain since 2015; patterns below come from Marshall County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (15.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 57.8% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 11.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 18.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Bell Plain happened on SR-89 (2), I-39 (1) and SR-117 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Bell Plain fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Marshall County.
- 27.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 18.1% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Marshall County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-89 | 2 |
| I-39 | 1 |
| SR-117 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marshall County) |
|---|---|
| I-39 | 66 |
| State Rt 17 | 5 |
| Il Rt 17 | 4 |
| Il-17 | 4 |
| SR-40 | 3 |
| I-039 | 2 |
| Il Rt 26 | 2 |
| Mp I039 40 | 2 |
Bell Plain at a glance
| Population | 315 |
| Land area | 36.8 sq mi |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61541) | $41,875 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61541) | $72,900 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marshall 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 | 5 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 10 | +112% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 13 | +34% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 14 | +12% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bell Plain
How many truck crashes happen in Bell Plain?
Marshall County has had 172 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 86 people and killing 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bell Plain?
Truck crashes in Marshall County peak in February, with 15.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bell Plain?
Since 2015, Marshall County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Bell Plain compare with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 130.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Marshall County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bell Plain?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.