Elk Township, Lake County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk Township, Lake County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk Township, Lake County and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 53 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Michigan
Lake County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 32% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 41.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 23% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 9.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 53% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Lake County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
Lake County at a glance: 41.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 53 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 23 people were injured and 2 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 79 days.
Elk Township, Lake County had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Lake County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (18.9% of the year) and are lowest in March (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.1% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 18.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 41.2% 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 Elk happened on SR-55 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Lake County.
Route planning tips for Elk Township, Lake County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 41.2% 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
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| US-10 | 23 |
| Brooks | 3 |
| 24Th | 1 |
| 40Th | 1 |
| 56Th | 1 |
| Kings | 1 |
| Lakeola | 1 |
| Lansing | 1 |
Elk Township, Lake County at a glance
| Population | 1,010 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 28 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49644) | $54,013 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49644) | $172,361 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 2 | +12% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 3 | +8% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 5 | +92% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk Township, Lake County
How common are truck crashes in Elk Township, Lake County?
Since 2015, 53 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (23 injured, 2 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Elk Township, Lake County?
February has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 18.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elk Township, Lake County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Elk Township, Lake County compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 35.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Elk Township, Lake County?
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.