Crystal Lake, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Crystal Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Crystal Lake and Benzie County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Benzie County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 65 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benzie County compares with Michigan
Benzie County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benzie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benzie County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 33% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 11.9% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 43% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Benzie County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Benzie County at a glance: 6.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Benzie County has recorded 65 truck crashes since 2015, with 15 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 68 days.
With 5 truck crashes reported in Crystal Lake since 2015, this page uses Benzie County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 18.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 1.5%.
November through March accounts for 50.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 21.5% of truck crashes.
37.3% 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 Crystal Lake since 2015: CR-HOMESTEAD Rd (1) and US-31 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Crystal Lake fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 30.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- 37.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; 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
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 Benzie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-HOMESTEAD Rd | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benzie County) |
|---|---|
| Honor | 15 |
| Reynolds | 6 |
| Lake Ann | 4 |
| US-31 | 3 |
| Pioneer | 3 |
| Cadillac | 2 |
| Cinder | 2 |
| Crystal | 2 |
Crystal Lake at a glance
| Population | 1,088 |
| Land area | 12.6 sq mi |
| Density | 87 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49635) | $72,422 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49635) | $371,635 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benzie 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 4 | +43% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | -15% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 6 | +71% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Crystal Lake
How many truck accidents are there in Crystal Lake?
Benzie County has had 65 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Crystal Lake?
January has the most truck crashes in Benzie County, 18.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Crystal Lake?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Benzie County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Crystal Lake compare with Michigan?
Benzie County records 29.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Crystal Lake?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.