Almena, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Almena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Almena and Van Buren County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Van Buren County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Michigan, Van Buren County is lower on garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Van Buren County: 45.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 1,053 crashes involving commercial trucks in Van Buren County since 2015: 345 people were injured and 36 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
Almena had 11 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Van Buren County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 23.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 61.1% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 45.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Almena with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-131 (2), CR-9TH St (1) and CR-RED Arrow Hwy (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 Almena fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 45.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Van Buren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 10 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-9TH St | 1 |
| CR-RED Arrow Hwy | 1 |
| CR-W Red Arrow Hwy | 1 |
| Maple Hill Dr | 1 |
| SR-43 | 1 |
| Sr-I94/Us-131 Bl Stadium Dr | 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 |
Almena at a glance
| Population | 5,379 |
| Land area | 34.4 sq mi |
| Density | 156 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49071) | $108,629 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49071) | $284,449 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 52 to 78. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Almena
How common are truck crashes in Almena?
Van Buren County has had 1,053 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 345 people and killing 36.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Almena?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Almena: 10.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Almena?
Truck crashes in Van Buren County peak in January, with 23.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Almena?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Van Buren County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Almena compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 115.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Van Buren County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Almena?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.