Van Buren County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Van Buren County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 1,053 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Van Buren County compares with Michigan
Van Buren County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Van Buren County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Van Buren County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 115.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 55% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 61.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Van Buren County sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Van Buren County: 45.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Van Buren County has recorded 1,053 truck crashes since 2015, with 345 people injured and 36 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 23.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.5%).
November through March accounts for 61.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 45.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (11). It is followed by CR-RED Arrow Hwy (2), SR-51 (2) and CR-687 64Th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Van Buren County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 45.9% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Van Buren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Van Buren County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 11 |
| CR-RED Arrow Hwy | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| CR-687 64Th St | 1 |
| CR-W Red Arrow Hwy | 1 |
| I-196 | 1 |
| SR-43 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Van Buren County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 384 |
| I-196 | 52 |
| Red Arrow | 23 |
| Arlington | 8 |
| 46Th | 6 |
| County Road 687 | 6 |
| Main | 6 |
| Phoenix | 6 |
Van Buren County at a glance
| Population | 76,129 |
| Land area | 607.8 sq mi |
| Density | 125 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,248 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Van Buren 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 | 52 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 55 | +5% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 79 | +44% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 78 | -1% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 52 a year in the 1990s and 78 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Van Buren County
ZIP codes in Van Buren County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Van Buren County
How many truck accidents are there in Van Buren County?
1,053 truck crashes have been reported in Van Buren County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 345 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Van Buren County?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 11 fatal large-truck crashes in Van Buren County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Van Buren County?
Truck crashes in Van Buren County peak in January, with 23.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Van Buren County?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Van Buren County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Van Buren County compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 115.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Van Buren County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Van Buren County?
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.