West Salem, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Salem and Wayne County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wayne County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
19 of 918 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wayne County compares with Ohio
Wayne County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wayne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wayne County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 67.4 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 18% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.1% | 7.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.8% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 18.9% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.1% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.3% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Wayne County has lower values than Ohio for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Ohio on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes.
What stands out in West Salem: I-71 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of West Salem.
Overview
Police reported 918 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wayne County since 2015: 385 people were injured and 32 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
With 3 truck crashes reported in West Salem since 2015, this page uses Wayne County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.6%).
November through March accounts for 42.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.3% in Ohio.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.1% of truck crashes, compared with 7.8% in Ohio.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-71 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). After it: SR-83 (4), US-224 (3) and US-42 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Ohio: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for West Salem fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wayne County.
- Look at alternatives to I-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Wayne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-71 | 6 |
| SR-83 | 4 |
| US-224 | 3 |
| US-42 | 2 |
| SR-301 | 1 |
| SR-302 | 1 |
| SR-58 | 1 |
| SR-89 | 1 |
| US-250 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wayne County) |
|---|---|
| US-0030 | 121 |
| Ir 71 | 117 |
| US-0250 | 80 |
| SR-0585 | 57 |
| SR-0083 | 33 |
| SR-0057 | 33 |
| SR-0003 | 24 |
| SR-0021 | 24 |
West Salem at a glance
| Population | 1,437 |
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,347 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 44287) | $73,816 |
| Median home value (ZIP 44287) | $194,154 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wayne 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 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 74 | +643% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 82 | +11% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 70 | -15% | 3.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 70. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Salem
How common are truck crashes in West Salem?
918 truck crashes have been reported in Wayne County since 2015, with 32 deaths and 385 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in West Salem?
Since 2015, I-71 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Salem: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in West Salem?
The worst month is March: 9.7% of truck crashes in Wayne County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in West Salem?
Since 2015, Wayne County has reported 19 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in West Salem compare with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 67.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wayne County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How can I plan a safer truck route in West Salem?
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.