Dunkirk, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dunkirk: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dunkirk and Hardin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hardin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 190 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hardin County compares with Ohio
Hardin County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hardin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hardin County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.7 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.2 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.7% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.1% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.3% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Hardin County sits below Ohio on garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Hardin County: 8.2 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.1 across Ohio.
Overview
Since 2015, 190 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Hardin County. They injured 108 people and killed 15.
That averages about one truck crash every 22 days in fully reported years.
With 9 truck crashes reported in Dunkirk since 2015, this page uses Hardin County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 42.3% across Ohio.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.7% of truck crashes, compared with 7.8% in Ohio.
Where crashes happen
US-68 leads within 10 miles of Dunkirk with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-31 (1) and SR-81 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.5% across Ohio.
Route planning tips for Dunkirk fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-68, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 8.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Ohio; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Hardin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-68 | 3 |
| SR-31 | 1 |
| SR-81 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hardin County) |
|---|---|
| US-68 | 20 |
| Main St | 18 |
| SR-117 | 14 |
| SR-31 | 12 |
| Detroit St | 10 |
| US-00068 | 8 |
| SR-81 | 8 |
| SR-309 | 8 |
Dunkirk at a glance
| Population | 756 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,149 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 45836) | $56,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 45836) | $122,296 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hardin 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 | 24 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 16 | -36% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 16 | +0% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 15 | -3% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dunkirk
How many truck crashes happen in Dunkirk?
190 truck crashes have been reported in Hardin County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 108 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Dunkirk?
Since 2015, US-68 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Dunkirk: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Dunkirk?
January has the most truck crashes in Hardin County, 12.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Dunkirk?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hardin County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Dunkirk compare with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 54.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hardin County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Dunkirk?
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.