Dowagiac, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dowagiac: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dowagiac and Cass County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cass County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
19 of 289 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cass County compares with Michigan
Cass County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cass County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cass County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.2 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.5% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.4% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.1% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Cass County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Cass County: 1 in 14 crashes involve a garbage truck (19 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 289 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cass County since 2015: 91 people were injured and 9 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 15 days in fully reported years.
With 28 truck crashes reported in Dowagiac since 2015, this page uses Cass County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in February (5.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.9% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.0%).
Road surface: 19.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Dowagiac since 2015: CR-DECATUR Rd (1) and SR-60 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 6.6% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Dowagiac fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 19.5% 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 Cass County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-DECATUR Rd | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cass County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 54 |
| Redfield | 11 |
| Decatur | 7 |
| Barron Lake | 6 |
| Marcellus | 6 |
| Main | 5 |
| Calvin Center | 4 |
| Front | 4 |
Dowagiac at a glance
| Population | 5,742 |
| Land area | 4.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,289 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49047) | $62,963 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49047) | $180,161 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cass 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 | 18 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 20 | +12% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 20 | -0% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 22 | +9% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 22. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dowagiac
How many truck crashes happen in Dowagiac?
Cass County has had 289 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 91 people and killing 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Dowagiac?
The worst month is January: 11.8% of truck crashes in Cass County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Dowagiac?
Garbage trucks were involved in 19 reported crashes in Cass County since 2015 (6.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Dowagiac compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Cass County has 46.2 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Dowagiac?
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.