Athens, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Athens: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Athens and Marathon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Marathon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
19 of 755 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marathon County compares with Wisconsin
Marathon County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marathon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marathon County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.4 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 7% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.8% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.9% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.9% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 20.7% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Marathon County sits below Wisconsin on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Marathon County: 21.8% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Overview
Marathon County has recorded 755 truck crashes since 2015, with 292 people injured and 27 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Athens since 2015, this page uses Marathon County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.9% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
21.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.4% across Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Athens happened on SR-29 (1) and SR-97 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for Athens fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.0% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- 21.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Wisconsin; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Marathon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-29 | 1 |
| SR-97 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marathon County) |
|---|---|
| Sth 029 | 182 |
| I-039 | 76 |
| Ush 051 | 57 |
| Sth 097 | 20 |
| Sth 013 | 19 |
| SR-029 | 18 |
| Sth 153 | 13 |
| Cth | 12 |
Athens at a glance
| Population | 1,064 |
| Land area | 2.5 sq mi |
| Density | 434 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54411) | $77,176 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54411) | $212,706 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marathon 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 | 57 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 75 | +33% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 64 | -15% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 63 | -2% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 57 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 63. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Athens
How common are truck crashes in Athens?
Since 2015, 755 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Marathon County (292 injured, 27 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Athens?
Truck crashes in Marathon County peak in January, with 13.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Athens?
19 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Marathon County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Athens compared with Wisconsin?
The yearly rate is 46.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Marathon County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Athens?
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.