Ionia County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ionia 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
9 of 683 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ionia County compares with Michigan
Ionia County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ionia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ionia County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 84.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 59% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Michigan, Ionia County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Ionia County: 1 in 76 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.3%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 683 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ionia County. They injured 174 people and killed 21.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.6% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.1% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (8.3%).
28.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-96 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-21 (2), CR-GRAND River Ave (1) and CR-JORDAN Lake Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Ionia County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ionia County.
- Look at alternatives to I-96 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Ionia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ionia County) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 3 |
| SR-21 | 2 |
| CR-GRAND River Ave | 1 |
| CR-JORDAN Lake Rd | 1 |
| Jackson Rd | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ionia County) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 233 |
| State | 48 |
| Grand River | 18 |
| Bluewater | 14 |
| Dexter | 13 |
| Belding | 10 |
| David | 9 |
| Lincoln | 9 |
Ionia County at a glance
| Population | 66,250 |
| Land area | 571.3 sq mi |
| Density | 116 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $75,426 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ionia 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 | 22 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 31 | +39% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 34 | +12% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 64 | +84% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 22 a year in the 1990s and 64 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, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ionia County
ZIP codes in Ionia County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ionia County
How many truck crashes happen in Ionia County?
683 truck crashes have been reported in Ionia County since 2015, with 21 deaths and 174 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Ionia County?
NHTSA data shows I-96 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Ionia County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Ionia County?
January has the most truck crashes in Ionia County, 13.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ionia County?
Since 2015, Ionia County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Ionia County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Ionia County has 84.1 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ionia County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.