Benton Township, Eaton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton Township, Eaton County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Benton Township, Eaton County and Eaton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Eaton County numbers.
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 sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share. It stands out for 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
Police reported 811 crashes involving commercial trucks in Eaton County since 2015: 262 people were injured and 18 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
With 34 truck crashes reported in Benton Township, Eaton County since 2015, this page uses Eaton County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.0% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Benton happened on I-96 (2), SR-50 (2), CR-COCHRAN Rd (1), CR-PACKARD Hwy (1) and CR-SAGINAW Hwy (1); no road leads clearly.
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 Benton Township, Eaton County fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 26.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment 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 Eaton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 2 |
| SR-50 | 2 |
| CR-COCHRAN Rd | 1 |
| CR-PACKARD Hwy | 1 |
| CR-SAGINAW Hwy | 1 |
| I-69 | 1 |
| N Canal Rd | 1 |
| SR-79 | 1 |
| SR-99 | 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 |
Benton Township, Eaton County at a glance
| Population | 2,774 |
| Land area | 33.5 sq mi |
| Density | 83 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48876) | $74,594 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48876) | $184,953 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 38 a year in the 1990s and 73 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Benton Township, Eaton County
How many truck crashes happen in Benton Township, Eaton County?
811 truck crashes have been reported in Eaton County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 262 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Benton Township, 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 Benton Township, Eaton County?
Since 2015, Eaton County has reported 12 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
How does Benton Township, Eaton County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 63.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Eaton County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Benton Township, 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.