Coldwater, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Coldwater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Coldwater 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 |
Branch County has lower values than Michigan for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Coldwater: I-69 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Coldwater.
Overview
Police reported 306 crashes involving commercial trucks in Branch County since 2015: 79 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 15 days.
With 115 truck crashes reported in Coldwater 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%).
November through March accounts for 48.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.2% of truck crashes.
19.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-69 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come CR-JONESVILLE Rd (1), CR-LESTER Rd (1) and CR-RIVER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Coldwater fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Branch County.
- Look at alternatives to I-69 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 19.3% 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
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 Branch County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-69 | 3 |
| CR-JONESVILLE Rd | 1 |
| CR-LESTER Rd | 1 |
| CR-RIVER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SNOW Prairie | 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 |
Coldwater at a glance
| Population | 14,314 |
| Land area | 9.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,519 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49036) | $62,259 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49036) | $167,673 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 22 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 26. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Coldwater
How many truck crashes happen in Coldwater?
306 truck crashes have been reported in Branch County since 2015, with 8 deaths and 79 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Coldwater?
I-69 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Coldwater since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Coldwater?
The worst month is February: 11.1% of truck crashes in Branch County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Coldwater?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Branch County since 2015 (3.6% of truck crashes).
How does Coldwater compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Branch County has 54.1 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Coldwater?
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.