Chippewa County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chippewa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 123 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chippewa County compares with Michigan
Chippewa County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chippewa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chippewa County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 53.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 3.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 31% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 29.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 66.4% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.5× the state |
| After dark | 25.7% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Chippewa County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Chippewa County: 53.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Chippewa County has recorded 123 truck crashes since 2015, with 43 people injured and 4 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 36 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.4% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (2.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 66.4% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (11.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 53.1% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-129 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: 3 Mile Rd (1), CR-63 Mackinac Trl (1) and CR-N West Shore Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 4.1%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Chippewa County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chippewa County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-129; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 53.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Chippewa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Chippewa County) |
|---|---|
| SR-129 | 2 |
| 3 Mile Rd | 1 |
| CR-63 Mackinac Trl | 1 |
| CR-N West Shore Dr | 1 |
| I-75 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chippewa County) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 13 |
| Mackinac | 10 |
| Mile | 5 |
| Easterday | 4 |
| Ashmun | 3 |
| Lakeshore | 2 |
| Meridian | 2 |
| Ontario | 2 |
Chippewa County at a glance
| Population | 36,253 |
| Land area | 1,558.5 sq mi |
| Density | 23 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $63,441 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chippewa 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 | 8 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 9 | +7% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 7 | -21% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 11 | +62% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Chippewa County
ZIP codes in Chippewa County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Chippewa County
How many truck accidents are there in Chippewa County?
Chippewa County has had 123 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 43 people and killing 4.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chippewa County?
SR-129 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Chippewa County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Chippewa County?
Truck crashes in Chippewa County peak in January, with 15.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chippewa County?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chippewa County since 2015, 4.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Chippewa County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 28.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Chippewa County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chippewa County?
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.