Otisco, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Otisco: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Otisco 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 |
Ionia County sits below Michigan on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Ionia County: 1 in 76 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.3%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Ionia County has recorded 683 truck crashes since 2015, with 174 people injured and 21 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
Only 10 truck crashes were reported in Otisco since 2015; patterns below come from Ionia County as a whole.
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.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, 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
Within this area, SR-57 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-21 (2), CR-LINCOLN Lake Ave Ne (1) and SR-44 (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 Otisco fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-57; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 28.1% 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
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-57 | 3 |
| SR-21 | 2 |
| CR-LINCOLN Lake Ave Ne | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
| SR-91 | 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 |
Otisco at a glance
| Population | 2,292 |
| Land area | 31.0 sq mi |
| Density | 74 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48809) | $71,071 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48809) | $203,399 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Otisco
How common are truck crashes in Otisco?
Ionia County has had 683 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 174 people and killing 21.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Otisco?
Since 2015, SR-57 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Otisco: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Otisco?
January has the most truck crashes in Ionia County, 13.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Otisco?
Since 2015, Ionia County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Otisco compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 84.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ionia County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Otisco?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.