Winnebago County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Winnebago 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Winnebago County compares with Illinois
Winnebago County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Winnebago County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Winnebago County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.1 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 21% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.5% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Winnebago County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Winnebago County: 1.7× change in fatal truck crashes a year in Winnebago County (2.0 → 3.4).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,454 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Winnebago County. They injured 662 people and killed 33.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.6% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 44.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 11.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Winnebago County is I-39, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-251 (4), I-90 (3) and SR-2 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
29 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (17%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Winnebago County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-39, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- 11.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Winnebago County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Winnebago County) |
|---|---|
| I-39 | 5 |
| SR-251 | 4 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| 11th St | 1 |
| CR-21 Telegraph Rd | 1 |
| Falcon Rd | 1 |
| Guilford Rd | 1 |
| Mu- Harrison Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Winnebago County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 201 |
| I-39 | 199 |
| US-20 | 59 |
| Harrison Ave | 33 |
| Ulysses S Grant Memorial | 31 |
| 11Th St | 29 |
| E State St | 23 |
| E Riverside Blvd | 22 |
Winnebago County at a glance
| Population | 283,790 |
| Land area | 513.0 sq mi |
| Density | 553 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $68,575 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Winnebago 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 | 50 | — | 3.9 |
| 2000s | 94 | +87% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 120 | +28% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | +6% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 50 a year in the 1990s and 127 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Winnebago County
ZIP codes in Winnebago County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Winnebago County
How many truck crashes happen in Winnebago County?
Since 2015, 1,454 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Winnebago County (662 injured, 33 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Winnebago County?
I-39 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Winnebago County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Winnebago County?
January has the most truck crashes in Winnebago County, 11.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Winnebago County?
Since 2015, Winnebago County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Winnebago County compared with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 44.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Winnebago County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Winnebago County?
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.