Odessa, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Odessa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Odessa and Ionia County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ionia County numbers.
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.
Ionia County at a glance: 1 in 76 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Ionia County has recorded 683 truck crashes since 2015, with 174 people injured and 21 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Odessa since 2015, this page uses Ionia County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Odessa happened on I-96 (2), SR-21 (2), CR-JORDAN Lake Rd (1), Jackson Rd (1) and SR-43 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Odessa fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Ionia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 2 |
| SR-21 | 2 |
| CR-JORDAN Lake Rd | 1 |
| Jackson Rd | 1 |
| SR-43 | 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 |
Odessa at a glance
| Population | 3,937 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 111 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48849) | $80,313 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48849) | $223,479 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 22 to 64. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Odessa
How many truck crashes happen in Odessa?
Ionia County has had 683 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 174 people and killing 21.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Odessa?
January has the most truck crashes in Ionia County, 13.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Odessa?
Garbage trucks were involved in 9 reported crashes in Ionia County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does Odessa compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Ionia County records 84.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Odessa?
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.