Nelson, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nelson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Nelson and Portage County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Portage County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Portage County compares with Ohio
Portage County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Portage County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Portage County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.9 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.8% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.2% | 21.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.6% | 18.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.3% | 42.3% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.9% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 7% below the state |
Portage County sits below Ohio on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Ohio on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Portage County at a glance: 11.8% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 7.8% across Ohio.
Overview
Portage County has recorded 1,351 truck crashes since 2015, with 586 people injured and 32 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Nelson since 2015; patterns below come from Portage County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.0%).
November through March accounts for 46.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.3% in Ohio.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
11.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.8% across Ohio.
Where crashes happen
US-422 leads within 10 miles of Nelson with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-80 (1), SR-43 (1) and SR-5 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.5% across Ohio.
Their busiest month is April, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.4, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Nelson fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Portage County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-422; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 23.2% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; adjust start times where you can.
- 11.8% 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
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 Portage County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-422 | 2 |
| I-80 | 1 |
| SR-43 | 1 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
| SR-528 | 1 |
| SR-88 | 1 |
| US-0422 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Portage County) |
|---|---|
| Ir 80 | 290 |
| Ir 76 | 189 |
| Ir 0076 | 128 |
| SR-14 | 114 |
| Ir 0080 | 74 |
| SR-0014 | 45 |
| SR-44 | 36 |
| SR-43 | 34 |
Nelson at a glance
| Population | 3,134 |
| Land area | 24.0 sq mi |
| Density | 131 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 44231) | $78,609 |
| Median home value (ZIP 44231) | $188,097 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Portage 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 | 10 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 91 | +794% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 126 | +39% | 2.9 |
| 2020s | 103 | -18% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 103 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Nelson
How many truck crashes happen in Nelson?
Since 2015, 1,351 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Portage County (586 injured, 32 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Nelson?
NHTSA data shows US-422 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Nelson since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson?
January has the most truck crashes in Portage County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Nelson?
Since 2015, Portage County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Nelson compare with Ohio?
Per 100,000 residents, Portage County has 70.9 truck crashes a year; Ohio has 50.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Nelson?
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.