Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County 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
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 sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Houghton County: 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County since 2015; patterns below come from Houghton County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (18.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.2%).
November through March accounts for 56.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 14.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 43.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Torch Lake since 2015 were spread across roads: US-41 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Torch Lake Township, Houghton County 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.
- 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 Houghton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 2 |
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 |
Torch Lake Township, Houghton County at a glance
| Population | 1,934 |
| Land area | 79.9 sq mi |
| Density | 24 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49945) | $59,453 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49945) | $162,371 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Torch Lake Township, Houghton County
How many truck accidents are there in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County?
120 truck crashes have been reported in Houghton County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 25 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County?
Truck crashes in Houghton County peak in January, with 18.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County?
Since 2015, Houghton County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Torch Lake Township, Houghton County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Houghton County records 26.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Torch Lake Township, Houghton 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.