Three Rivers, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Three Rivers: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Three Rivers and St. Joseph County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Joseph County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 416 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How St. Joseph County compares with Michigan
St. Joseph County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.8 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.4% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 7% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
St. Joseph County has lower values than Michigan for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for St. Joseph County: 5.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
St. Joseph County has recorded 416 truck crashes since 2015, with 150 people injured and 26 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
Only 44 truck crashes were reported in Three Rivers since 2015; patterns below come from St. Joseph County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (10.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.4% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-131 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by US-31 (2), CR-LUTZ Rd (1) and CR-SILVER St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.8% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Three Rivers fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 29.6% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 5 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-LUTZ Rd | 1 |
| CR-SILVER St | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 78 |
| US-12 | 51 |
| N Us 131 | 22 |
| S Us 131 | 15 |
| Main | 15 |
| Michigan | 14 |
| Lutz | 11 |
| Centerville | 11 |
Three Rivers at a glance
| Population | 7,958 |
| Land area | 5.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,423 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49093) | $63,118 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49093) | $178,658 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 17 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 32 | +86% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 26 | -19% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 39 | +51% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 39 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Three Rivers
How many truck accidents are there in Three Rivers?
Since 2015, 416 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in St. Joseph County (150 injured, 26 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Three Rivers?
NHTSA data shows US-131 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Three Rivers since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Three Rivers?
Truck crashes in St. Joseph County peak in December, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Three Rivers?
Since 2015, St. Joseph County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Three Rivers compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, St. Joseph County has 57.8 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Three Rivers?
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.