Eaton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Eaton 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
12 of 811 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Eaton County compares with Michigan
Eaton County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Eaton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Eaton County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.6 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 68% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.3% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Eaton County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Eaton County: 1 in 96 crashes involve a garbage truck (12 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 811 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Eaton County. They injured 262 people and killed 18.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 51.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
26.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Eaton County is SR-50, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-69 (2), I-96 (2) and CR-COCHRAN Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 12 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Eaton County fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Eaton County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-50; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 26.2% 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
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 Eaton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Eaton County) |
|---|---|
| SR-50 | 3 |
| I-69 | 2 |
| I-96 | 2 |
| CR-COCHRAN Rd | 1 |
| CR-PACKARD Hwy | 1 |
| CR-SAGINAW Hwy | 1 |
| Cochran Rd | 1 |
| I-496 | 1 |
| N Canal Rd | 1 |
| SR-43 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Eaton County) |
|---|---|
| I-69 | 121 |
| Lansing | 49 |
| I-96 | 48 |
| Creyts | 43 |
| Clinton | 36 |
| Saginaw | 32 |
| Canal | 20 |
| Michigan | 18 |
Eaton County at a glance
| Population | 109,494 |
| Land area | 575.2 sq mi |
| Density | 190 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $81,351 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Eaton 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 | 38 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 45 | +18% | 2.5 |
| 2010s | 50 | +10% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 73 | +47% | 2.6 |
In the 1990s about 38 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 73. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Eaton County
ZIP codes in Eaton County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Eaton County
How many truck crashes happen in Eaton County?
Eaton County has had 811 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 262 people and killing 18.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Eaton County?
SR-50 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Eaton County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Eaton County?
Truck crashes in Eaton County peak in February, with 12.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Eaton County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 12 reported crashes in Eaton County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Eaton County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Eaton County records 63.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Eaton County?
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.