Union County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 246 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with Illinois
Union County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 127.1 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.4% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 62% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.6% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 23% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 29% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.7% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.6% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Union County sits below Illinois on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
What stands out in Union County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.6 across Illinois.
Overview
Since 2015, 246 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Union County. They injured 118 people and killed 15.
That averages about one truck crash every 17 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 13.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 6.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.7% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 9.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.4% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Union County is I-57, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-146 (1) and SR-3 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Union County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Union County fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Union 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 6 |
| SR-146 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 123 |
| Il-146 | 16 |
| I-057 | 7 |
| I-57 N/B Mp 38 | 4 |
| Lick Creek Rd | 4 |
| South Main Street | 4 |
| US-51 | 4 |
| S Us-51 | 3 |
Union County at a glance
| Population | 16,886 |
| Land area | 413.4 sq mi |
| Density | 41 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $52,082 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 6 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 9 | +45% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 18 | +111% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 22 | +20% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 22 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Union County
ZIP codes in Union County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Union County
How many truck crashes happen in Union County?
246 truck crashes have been reported in Union County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 118 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union County?
Since 2015, I-57 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Union County: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Union County?
July has the most truck crashes in Union County, 13.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Union County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Union County compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 127.1 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Union County?
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.