West Branch Township, Missaukee County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Branch Township, Missaukee County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Branch Township, Missaukee County and Missaukee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Missaukee County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 101 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Missaukee County compares with Michigan
Missaukee County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Missaukee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Missaukee County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.5 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 66% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Missaukee County sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Missaukee County: 4.3 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.1 in Michigan.
Overview
Missaukee County has recorded 101 truck crashes since 2015, with 32 people injured and 4 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 43 days in fully reported years.
West Branch Township, Missaukee County had 7 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Missaukee County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 3.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.1% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (10.9%).
28.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of West Branch happened on SR-55 (1) and SR-66 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for West Branch Township, Missaukee County fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 28.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- 28.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Missaukee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Missaukee County) |
|---|---|
| Houghton Lake | 24 |
| Morey | 16 |
| Stoney Corners | 10 |
| Rhoby | 5 |
| Mile | 4 |
| Pioneer | 3 |
| Lucas | 3 |
| Blue | 3 |
West Branch Township, Missaukee County at a glance
| Population | 457 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49651) | $66,406 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49651) | $177,845 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Missaukee 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 | 4 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 7 | +68% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 4 | -33% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 10 | +133% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 10 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Branch Township, Missaukee County
How common are truck crashes in West Branch Township, Missaukee County?
Since 2015, 101 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Missaukee County (32 injured, 4 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in West Branch Township, Missaukee County?
May has the most truck crashes in Missaukee County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in West Branch Township, Missaukee County?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Missaukee County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How does West Branch Township, Missaukee County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Missaukee County records 55.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in West Branch Township, Missaukee 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.