Helena, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helena and Antrim County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Antrim County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 127 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Antrim County compares with Michigan
Antrim County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Antrim County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Antrim County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 39.7% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Antrim County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Antrim County: 6.0 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 127 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Antrim County. They injured 50 people and killed 7.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 35 days.
Only 2 truck crashes were reported in Helena since 2015; patterns below come from Antrim County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 15.0% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 50.0% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 11.0% of truck crashes.
39.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Helena since 2015: US-131 (2), US-31 (2) and Alden Hwy (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 5.5% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Helena fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Antrim County.
- 28.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 39.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Antrim County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| Alden Hwy | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Antrim County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 39 |
| US-31 | 19 |
| Alba | 11 |
| Williams | 3 |
| Darragh | 2 |
| East Torch Lake | 2 |
| Elder | 2 |
| Alden | 1 |
Helena at a glance
| Population | 980 |
| Land area | 16.2 sq mi |
| Density | 60 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49612) | $85,156 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49612) | $276,219 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Antrim 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 | 7 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 9 | +16% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 8 | -9% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 11 | +45% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helena
How many truck accidents are there in Helena?
Since 2015, 127 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Antrim County (50 injured, 7 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Helena?
Truck crashes in Antrim County peak in December, with 15.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Helena?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Antrim County since 2015 (5.5% of truck crashes).
How does Helena compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Antrim County has 43.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Helena?
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.