Bear Creek, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bear Creek: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bear Creek and Emmet County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Emmet County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Emmet County compares with Michigan
Emmet County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Emmet County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Emmet County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 9.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.2% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 20% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 8.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 58% below the state |
Emmet County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Emmet County: 1 in 11 crashes involve a garbage truck (13 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 143 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Emmet County. They injured 42 people and killed 6.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 29 days.
With 40 truck crashes reported in Bear Creek since 2015, this page uses Emmet County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (2.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (12.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.3% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
US-31 leads within 10 miles of Bear Creek with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-131 (2), CR-MITCHELL Rd (1) and Intertown Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 9.1% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Bear Creek fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Emmet County.
- Check whether your routes use US-31, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 29.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Emmet County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-MITCHELL Rd | 1 |
| Intertown Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Emmet County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 30 |
| US-131 | 13 |
| Charlevoix | 11 |
| Mitchell | 9 |
| Conway | 4 |
| Pickerel Lake | 4 |
| Pleasantview | 4 |
| Spring | 4 |
Bear Creek at a glance
| Population | 6,526 |
| Land area | 39.6 sq mi |
| Density | 165 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49770) | $79,590 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49770) | $362,551 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Emmet 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 | 10 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 11 | +14% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 8 | -32% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 15 | +97% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bear Creek
How common are truck crashes in Bear Creek?
143 truck crashes have been reported in Emmet County since 2015, with 6 deaths and 42 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bear Creek?
Since 2015, US-31 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bear Creek: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bear Creek?
Truck crashes in Emmet County peak in February, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bear Creek?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Emmet County since 2015, 9.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Bear Creek compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Emmet County records 36.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bear Creek?
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.