Empire, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Empire: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Empire and McLean County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McLean County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 1,262 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McLean County compares with Illinois
McLean County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McLean County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McLean County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.1 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.7% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
McLean County has lower values than Illinois for garbage-truck share. It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in McLean County: 18.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Overview
Police reported 1,262 crashes involving commercial trucks in McLean County since 2015: 607 people were injured and 54 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 43 truck crashes were reported in Empire since 2015; patterns below come from McLean County as a whole.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 13.4% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 51.0% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (7.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 18.7% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-74 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: N 2850 East Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 0.6% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Empire fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-74 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 18.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 McLean County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 5 |
| N 2850 East Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McLean County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 485 |
| I-74 | 152 |
| I-39 | 48 |
| W Market St | 16 |
| Veterans Pkwy | 15 |
| US-136 | 13 |
| I-055 | 9 |
| E 200 North Rd | 9 |
Empire at a glance
| Population | 3,991 |
| Land area | 49.5 sq mi |
| Density | 81 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61752) | $87,591 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61752) | $179,984 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McLean 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 | 48 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 82 | +73% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 98 | +19% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 113 | +15% | 3.6 |
In the 1990s about 48 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 113. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Empire
How many truck accidents are there in Empire?
1,262 truck crashes have been reported in McLean County since 2015, with 54 deaths and 607 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Empire?
Since 2015, I-74 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Empire: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Empire?
February has the most truck crashes in McLean County, 13.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Empire?
Since 2015, McLean County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Empire compare with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, McLean County has 63.1 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Empire?
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.