Salem Township, Ottawa County, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem Township, Ottawa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem Township, Ottawa County and Ottawa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ottawa County numbers.
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.
The headline for Ottawa County: 1 in 22 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.6%, vs 2.5% in Ohio.
Overview
Since 2015, 284 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ottawa County. They injured 142 people and killed 8.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 15 days.
Only 4 truck crashes were reported in Salem Township, Ottawa County since 2015; patterns below come from Ottawa County as a whole.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 11.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.3% for Ohio.
By time of day, 6–7 am stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Ohio: 7.8%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Salem with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-20 (3), SR-163 (1) and SR-53 (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 Salem Township, Ottawa County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 8.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Ohio; 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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| SR-163 | 1 |
| SR-53 | 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 |
Salem Township, Ottawa County at a glance
| Population | 5,238 |
| Land area | 29.0 sq mi |
| Density | 180 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 43449) | $71,083 |
| Median home value (ZIP 43449) | $185,912 |
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. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem Township, Ottawa County
How many truck accidents are there in Salem Township, Ottawa County?
Ottawa County has had 284 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 142 people and killing 8.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Salem Township, Ottawa County?
I-80 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Salem since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Salem Township, 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 Salem Township, Ottawa County?
Since 2015, Ottawa County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Salem Township, Ottawa County compared with Ohio?
Ottawa County records 60.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 50.8 across Ohio.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Salem Township, Ottawa County?
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.