Bethel, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bethel: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bethel and Branch County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Branch County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 306 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Branch County compares with Michigan
Branch County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Branch County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Branch County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.27 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 10% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.4% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.7% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Compared with Michigan, Branch County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Bethel: I-80 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethel since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 306 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Branch County. They injured 79 people and killed 8.
That averages about one truck crash every 15 days in fully reported years.
With 5 truck crashes reported in Bethel since 2015, this page uses Branch County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 11.1% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.4% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.2%).
19.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Bethel is I-80, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-SNOW Prairie (1), I-69 (1) and I-80Eb (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Bethel fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- With 19.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment 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 Branch County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2 |
| CR-SNOW Prairie | 1 |
| I-69 | 1 |
| I-80Eb | 1 |
| SR-120 | 1 |
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Branch County) |
|---|---|
| Chicago | 89 |
| I-69 | 70 |
| Jonesville | 13 |
| Central | 6 |
| Ray Quincy | 5 |
| Mendon | 5 |
| Marshall | 5 |
| Butters | 4 |
Bethel at a glance
| Population | 1,468 |
| Land area | 35.8 sq mi |
| Density | 41 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49028) | $60,127 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49028) | $151,516 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Branch 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 | 22 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 24 | +9% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 20 | -18% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 26 | +28% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 22 to 26. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bethel
How common are truck crashes in Bethel?
Since 2015, 306 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Branch County (79 injured, 8 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Bethel?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethel: 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bethel?
Truck crashes in Branch County peak in February, with 11.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bethel?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Branch County since 2015 (3.6% of truck crashes).
How does Bethel compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Branch County has 54.1 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bethel?
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.