Athens, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Athens: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Athens and Calhoun County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Calhoun County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
18 of 1,338 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Calhoun County compares with Michigan
Calhoun County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Calhoun County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Calhoun County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 85.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 56% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.7% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.3% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.7% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Calhoun County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Calhoun County: 1 in 70 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.4%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 1,338 crashes involving commercial trucks in Calhoun County since 2015: 423 people were injured and 42 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Athens since 2015; patterns below come from Calhoun County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.7% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Athens since 2015: SR-66 (2), SR-60 (1) and SR-86 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 18 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Athens fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 22.7% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Calhoun County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-66 | 2 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Calhoun County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 321 |
| I-69 | 100 |
| Michigan | 58 |
| Columbia | 47 |
| Dickman | 26 |
| Mile | 24 |
| Capital | 15 |
| Helmer | 14 |
Athens at a glance
| Population | 957 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 955 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49011) | $59,722 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49011) | $158,548 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Calhoun 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 | 83 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 87 | +5% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 88 | +1% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 117 | +33% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 83 a year in the 1990s and 117 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Athens
How common are truck crashes in Athens?
1,338 truck crashes have been reported in Calhoun County since 2015, with 42 deaths and 423 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Athens?
The worst month is January: 13.3% of truck crashes in Calhoun County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Athens?
Since 2015, Calhoun County has reported 18 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Athens compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Calhoun County has 85.3 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Athens?
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.