Ottawa County, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ottawa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 284 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ottawa County compares with Ohio
Ottawa County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ottawa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ottawa County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.2 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.6% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.8% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.1% | 18.9% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.4% | 42.3% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 26.2% | 25.8% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Ohio, Ottawa County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Ottawa County at a glance: 1 in 22 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.6%, vs 2.5% in Ohio.
Overview
Police reported 284 crashes involving commercial trucks in Ottawa County since 2015: 142 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 15 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (11.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.4% of truck crashes, against 42.3% across Ohio.
By time of day, 6–7 am stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.8% of truck crashes, compared with 7.8% in Ohio.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Ottawa County is I-80, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-30 Catawba (1), SR-163 (1) and TR-92 Toussaint Portage Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 4.6% of the total, against 2.5% across Ohio.
Route planning tips for Ottawa County fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ottawa County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 8.8% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2 |
| CR-30 Catawba | 1 |
| SR-163 | 1 |
| TR-92 Toussaint Portage Rd | 1 |
| TR-98 W Schiller Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| Ir 80 | 77 |
| SR-2 | 64 |
| SR-163 | 35 |
| SR-579 | 17 |
| SR-51 | 14 |
| State Route 2 St | 6 |
| State Route 2 Hw | 5 |
| SR-19 | 4 |
Ottawa County at a glance
| Population | 39,692 |
| Land area | 254.7 sq mi |
| Density | 156 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $75,711 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ottawa 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 | 2 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 26 | +1190% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 25 | -2% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 21 | -15% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 21. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ottawa County
ZIP codes in Ottawa County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ottawa County
How many truck crashes happen in Ottawa County?
284 truck crashes have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, with 8 deaths and 142 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Ottawa County?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes in Ottawa County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ottawa County?
February has the most truck crashes in Ottawa County, 11.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Ottawa County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 13 reported crashes in Ottawa County since 2015 (4.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Ottawa County compared with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 60.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ottawa County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ottawa County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.