Big Prairie, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Big Prairie: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Big Prairie and Newaygo County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Newaygo County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 147 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Newaygo County compares with Michigan
Newaygo County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Newaygo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Newaygo County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 53% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 10% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 20.3% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Newaygo County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Newaygo County at a glance: 5.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 147 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Newaygo County. They injured 34 people and killed 8.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 29 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Big Prairie since 2015, this page uses Newaygo County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.5% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (10.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.6% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Big Prairie is US-131, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-S Cypress Ave (1), Spruce Ave (1) and Washington St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Big Prairie fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Newaygo County.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.7% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- With 19.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Newaygo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| CR-S Cypress Ave | 1 |
| Spruce Ave | 1 |
| Washington St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Newaygo County) |
|---|---|
| Mile | 16 |
| Main | 11 |
| Maple Island | 8 |
| Mason | 8 |
| 72Nd | 7 |
| Evergreen | 7 |
| Warner | 6 |
| 80Th | 5 |
Big Prairie at a glance
| Population | 2,551 |
| Land area | 31.5 sq mi |
| Density | 81 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49337) | $67,526 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49337) | $194,175 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Newaygo 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 | 13 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 12 | -6% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 10 | -17% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 12 | +19% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Big Prairie
How common are truck crashes in Big Prairie?
147 truck crashes have been reported in Newaygo County since 2015, with 8 deaths and 34 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Big Prairie?
US-131 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Big Prairie since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Big Prairie?
Truck crashes in Newaygo County peak in November, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Big Prairie?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Newaygo County since 2015 (2.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Big Prairie compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 24.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Newaygo County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Big Prairie?
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.