Lawrence, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lawrence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lawrence 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 |
Van Buren County has lower values than Michigan for 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% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in 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.
With 186 truck crashes reported in Lawrence 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%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 61.1% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
45.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Lawrence with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-RED Arrow Hwy (2), SR-51 (2) and CR-687 64Th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Lawrence 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.
- With 45.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 | 7 |
| CR-RED Arrow Hwy | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| CR-687 64Th St | 1 |
| CR-COUNTY Line Rd | 1 |
| CR-W Red Arrow Hwy | 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 |
Lawrence at a glance
| Population | 1,011 |
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
| Density | 568 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49064) | $68,607 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49064) | $170,470 |
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. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lawrence
How many truck crashes happen in Lawrence?
Since 2015, 1,053 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Van Buren County (345 injured, 36 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Lawrence?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lawrence since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Lawrence?
January has the most truck crashes in Van Buren County, 23.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lawrence?
Since 2015, Van Buren County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Lawrence compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Van Buren County has 115.4 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Lawrence?
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.