Chester, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chester: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chester and Randolph County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Randolph County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 188 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Randolph County compares with Illinois
Randolph County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Randolph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Randolph County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.8 | 56.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 59% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 32.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.1% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 41% below the state |
Compared with Illinois, Randolph County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Randolph County: 5.6 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Illinois: 2.6).
Overview
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Randolph County. They injured 82 people and killed 11.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 23 days.
With 22 truck crashes reported in Chester since 2015, this page uses Randolph County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 4.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.2% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 11.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Chester is SR-51, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-150 (2), SR-4 (1) and Sr-Z (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.5%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Chester fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Randolph County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-51 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 32.8% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Randolph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-51 | 5 |
| SR-150 | 2 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
| Sr-Z | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Randolph County) |
|---|---|
| Il-3 | 15 |
| Il-150 | 12 |
| County Line Rd | 8 |
| Il-154 | 6 |
| Il-4 | 6 |
| State St | 6 |
| E Pine St | 5 |
| Market | 5 |
Chester at a glance
| Population | 6,759 |
| Land area | 5.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,171 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Randolph 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 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 11 | +131% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 16 | +50% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 15 | -9% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chester
How many truck accidents are there in Chester?
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Randolph County (82 injured, 11 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chester?
SR-51 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Chester since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chester?
Truck crashes in Randolph County peak in October, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chester?
Since 2015, Randolph County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Chester compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Randolph County has 53.8 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chester?
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.