Chelsea, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chelsea: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chelsea and Washtenaw County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washtenaw County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washtenaw County compares with Michigan
Washtenaw County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washtenaw County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washtenaw County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 25% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 21.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Washtenaw County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Chelsea at a glance: I-94 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Chelsea: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Washtenaw County has recorded 2,523 truck crashes since 2015, with 755 people injured and 49 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Chelsea had 31 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Washtenaw County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (9.9% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.3% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Chelsea is I-94, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-GOODBAND Rd (1) and CR-OLD Us-12 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 75 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (16%).
They recorded 2.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chelsea fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washtenaw County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Washtenaw County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Washtenaw County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 6 |
| CR-GOODBAND Rd | 1 |
| CR-OLD Us-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washtenaw County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 301 |
| US-23 | 242 |
| N Us 23 | 133 |
| Michigan | 133 |
| S Us 23 | 125 |
| Jackson | 33 |
| Main | 28 |
| State | 27 |
Chelsea at a glance
| Population | 5,393 |
| Land area | 3.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,491 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48118) | $88,278 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48118) | $357,753 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washtenaw 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 | 132 | — | 4.2 |
| 2000s | 166 | +26% | 4.0 |
| 2010s | 162 | -2% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 214 | +32% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 132 a year in the 1990s and 214 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chelsea
How common are truck crashes in Chelsea?
2,523 truck crashes have been reported in Washtenaw County since 2015, with 49 deaths and 755 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Chelsea?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chelsea: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chelsea?
Truck crashes in Washtenaw County peak in September, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Chelsea?
Garbage trucks were involved in 75 reported crashes in Washtenaw County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Chelsea compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washtenaw County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chelsea?
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.