Walker, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Walker: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Walker and Ottawa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ottawa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Ottawa County compares with Michigan
Ottawa County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ottawa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ottawa County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Ottawa County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It runs above Michigan on on snow, slush or ice.
Ottawa County at a glance: January worst month: 14.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Ottawa County has recorded 1,797 truck crashes since 2015, with 611 people injured and 31 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Walker since 2015, this page uses Ottawa County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 14.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
20.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Walker since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-11 (3), US-131 (3), SR-44 (2), 44th Street (1) and CR-44TH St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 57 of the truck crashes here, or 3.2%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Their busiest month is November, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.9, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Walker fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ottawa County.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Ottawa County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.6% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-11 | 3 |
| US-131 | 3 |
| SR-44 | 2 |
| 44th Street | 1 |
| CR-44TH St | 1 |
| Michigan St Ne | 1 |
| Pearl St Nw | 1 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
| SR-45 | 1 |
| Sr-28th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 148 |
| I-196 | 133 |
| I-96 | 115 |
| Chicago | 89 |
| Lake Michigan | 57 |
| I 196 Bl | 46 |
| Riley | 39 |
| Beacon | 39 |
Walker at a glance
| Population | 25,921 |
| Land area | 24.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,055 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49534) | $81,657 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49534) | $309,175 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ottawa 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 | 88 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +14% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 111 | +11% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 157 | +42% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 88 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 157. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Walker
How many truck crashes happen in Walker?
Ottawa County has had 1,797 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 611 people and killing 31.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Walker?
Truck crashes in Ottawa County peak in January, with 14.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Walker?
Garbage trucks were involved in 57 reported crashes in Ottawa County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does Walker compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 49.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ottawa County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Walker?
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.