Decatur, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Decatur: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Decatur 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 runs above Michigan on 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.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
With 16 truck crashes reported in Decatur since 2015, this page uses Van Buren County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (23.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (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.
Road surface: 45.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). After it: CR-RED Arrow Hwy (2), SR-51 (2) and CR-MARCELLUS Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Decatur fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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
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 Van Buren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 6 |
| CR-RED Arrow Hwy | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| CR-MARCELLUS Rd | 1 |
| CR-W Red Arrow Hwy | 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 |
Decatur at a glance
| Population | 1,660 |
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,229 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49045) | $57,436 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49045) | $172,811 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 52 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 78. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Decatur
How many truck accidents are there in Decatur?
Van Buren County has had 1,053 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 345 people and killing 36.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Decatur?
I-94 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Decatur since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Decatur?
The worst month is January: 23.6% of truck crashes in Van Buren County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Decatur?
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 Decatur compare with Michigan?
Van Buren County records 115.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Decatur?
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.