Lena, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lena and Stephenson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Stephenson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 199 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Stephenson County compares with Illinois
Stephenson County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Stephenson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Stephenson County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.3 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 28% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.5% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Stephenson County has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Illinois on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Stephenson County at a glance: 5.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Illinois: 2.6).
Overview
Police reported 199 crashes involving commercial trucks in Stephenson County since 2015: 104 people were injured and 11 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 21 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Lena since 2015, this page uses Stephenson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 12.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.4% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (10.6%).
Road surface: 13.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Lena since 2015: N Baker Rd (1), SR-26 (1), Sr- 26 (1) and US-20 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Lena fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 13.1% 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 Stephenson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| N Baker Rd | 1 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
| Sr- 26 | 1 |
| US-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Stephenson County) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 28 |
| Il-75 | 8 |
| Ulysses S Grant Memorial | 8 |
| W Us-20 | 7 |
| Il-26 | 7 |
| E Cedarville Rd | 5 |
| E Us-20 | 4 |
| Il-73 | 4 |
Lena at a glance
| Population | 2,666 |
| Land area | 2.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,006 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61048) | $82,875 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61048) | $166,525 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Stephenson 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 | 8 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 14 | +77% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +22% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 17 | -3% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lena
How common are truck crashes in Lena?
Since 2015, 199 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Stephenson County (104 injured, 11 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Lena?
August has the most truck crashes in Stephenson County, 12.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lena?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Stephenson County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
How does Lena compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
Stephenson County records 40.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lena?
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.