Elm River, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elm River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elm River and Houghton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Houghton County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 120 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Houghton County compares with Michigan
Houghton County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Houghton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Houghton County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 50% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.21 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 43.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 17.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Houghton County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Houghton County at a glance: 43.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Houghton County has recorded 120 truck crashes since 2015, with 25 people injured and 5 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 37 days in fully reported years.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in Elm River since 2015; patterns below come from Houghton County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 18.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.0% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 14.2% of truck crashes.
43.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, no fatal large-truck crashes with a location were recorded within 10 miles of Elm River.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Elm River fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 27.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 43.1% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Houghton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Houghton County) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 25 |
| Memorial | 8 |
| Hancock | 4 |
| Sharon | 3 |
| Otter Lake Tapiola | 3 |
| Montezuma | 2 |
| Paradise | 2 |
| Razorback | 2 |
Elm River at a glance
| Population | 213 |
| Land area | 91.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49965) | $78,295 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49965) | $234,240 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Houghton 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 | 7 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +22% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 7 | -12% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | +50% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elm River
How common are truck crashes in Elm River?
Since 2015, 120 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Houghton County (25 injured, 5 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elm River?
The worst month is January: 18.3% of truck crashes in Houghton County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Elm River?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Houghton County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does Elm River compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Houghton County has 26.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Elm River?
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.