ZIP 49969 (Watersmeet, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49969: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Gogebic County, 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
3 of 64 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Gogebic County compares with Michigan
Gogebic County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gogebic County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gogebic County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 28% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 100% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 42.4% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 15.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Gogebic County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Gogebic County: 42.4% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 64 crashes involving commercial trucks in Gogebic County since 2015: 21 people were injured and 0 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 68 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (15.6% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 52.5% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 14.1% of truck crashes.
42.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49969 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 4.7%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49969 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 33.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- 42.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; 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
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 Gogebic County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gogebic County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 19 |
| Cloverland | 7 |
| Lead | 4 |
| Lake | 2 |
| Putnam | 2 |
| Sunday Lake | 2 |
| Ascherman | 1 |
| Ayer St | 1 |
ZIP 49969 at a glance
| Population | 1,000 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,188 |
| Median home value | $247,806 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gogebic 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 | 4 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 5 | +7% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 3 | -33% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | +104% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49969
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 49969?
64 truck crashes have been reported in Gogebic County since 2015, with 0 deaths and 21 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49969?
February has the most truck crashes in Gogebic County, 15.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 49969?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Gogebic County since 2015 (4.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 49969 compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Gogebic County has 37.7 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49969?
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.