183 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, there were no fatalities reported among pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists in Adair County. All 56 injuries recorded were sustained by motorists. There were no pedestrians or cyclists reported injured in crashes during this period.

Crashes in Adair County showed a temporal pattern in 2015, with Friday being the peak day of the week, accounting for 41 incidents. The peak hour for crashes was 2 PM, with 14 occurrences. While 84 crashes occurred during daylight hours, 68 incidents happened during dark conditions, indicating a notable presence of nighttime crashes.

Of the 183 crashes in Adair County during 2015, 141 (77%) resulted in no injuries. Injury crashes, encompassing serious, minor, and possible injuries, totaled 42 incidents, accounting for 22.9% of all crashes. There were no fatal crashes, and consequently, zero fatalities were reported in this period.

The leading contributing factor to crashes in Adair County was 'Animal,' involved in 40 incidents (21.9%). 'Lost Control' was the second most frequent factor, contributing to 33 crashes (18%), followed by 'Ran off road - straight' with 23 incidents (12.6%). These factors collectively highlight common scenarios leading to crashes in the county.

Approximately 49.2% of crashes occurred under clear weather conditions, with 90 incidents, and 49.7% happened on dry road surfaces, totaling 91 crashes. Adverse weather conditions, including snow and rain, contributed to 49 crashes, while adverse road surfaces like wet, snow, and ice were present in 58 incidents. Additionally, 68 crashes occurred during dark lighting conditions, comprising 37.2% of all incidents.

The age group 26-34 was the most represented among persons involved in crashes, accounting for 61 individuals, followed by the 35-44 age group with 49 individuals. The most frequently involved vehicle makes were Ford, with 42 vehicles, and Chevrolet, with 28 vehicles. 'CHEV' also appeared frequently with 22 vehicles.

The most common major cause of crashes in Adair County was 'Animal,' contributing to 40 incidents. 'Lost Control' was identified as a major cause in 33 crashes, while 'Ran off road - straight' accounted for 23 incidents. These three factors represent a significant portion of the crash causes reported.

The most frequent first harmful event was a 'Collision with: Animal,' occurring in 40 crashes. 'Collision with: Vehicle in traffic' was the second most common, with 38 incidents. Collisions with fixed objects, such as cable barriers and ditches, were also notable, accounting for 27 and 18 incidents respectively.

A substantial majority of crashes, 136 incidents (74.3%), occurred at non-junction segments of the roadway. In contrast, crashes at various intersection types, including four-way and T-intersections, collectively accounted for 11 incidents. This indicates that most crashes happened away from traditional intersections.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 81 vehicles. Tractor/semi-trailers were involved in 51 incidents, representing 20.9% of all vehicles, while Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) accounted for 48 vehicles. Four-tire light trucks were also frequently involved, with 40 vehicles.

The vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes, 197 out of 217 (90.8%), were operating where no traffic controls were present. Work zone signs were present for 6 vehicles, while other traffic controls like warning signs and stop signs were present for a smaller number of vehicles. This indicates a high prevalence of crashes in uncontrolled environments.

The front of the vehicle was the most common area of impact, reported in 38 instances, with the front-driver side corner accounting for 32 instances. Rear damage was noted in 24 cases, representing 11.7% of all reported damage locations. Side impacts, including passenger and driver side, collectively accounted for 56 instances.

In Adair County, the city of Adair recorded the highest number of crashes with 19 incidents. Stuart followed with 12 crashes, and Greenfield reported 6 crashes. These three municipalities account for the majority of crashes within the county's cities.

The majority of crashes, 168 incidents, occurred on paved roadways in Adair County. However, 15 crashes, representing 8.2% of the total, took place on unpaved surfaces. This highlights the presence of crashes on the county's gravel secondary-road network.

Surface conditions, such as wet or icy roads, were the most frequently cited roadway factor, contributing to 35 crashes. Work zones were a factor in 3 crashes, and debris on the roadway contributed to 1 crash. These factors represent a minority of crashes, as most incidents did not have an apparent roadway contributor.

Among drivers with reported conditions other than 'apparently normal,' 'Asleep/fatigued' and 'Under the influence of alcohol' were the most frequent, each accounting for 11 instances. Other less common conditions included 'Emotional,' 'Illness/fainted,' and 'Paraplegic/wheelchair restricted,' each noted in 1 instance. These conditions represent a small portion of all drivers involved in crashes.

The largest proportion of crashes, 122 incidents (66.7%), resulted in estimated property damage costs between $1,500 and $7,500. High-damage crashes, with costs exceeding $25,000, occurred in 10 incidents, representing 5.5% of all crashes. Only 4 crashes had property damage estimated under $1,500.

The dominant crash pattern in Adair County was 'Non-collision (single vehicle),' accounting for 121 incidents or 66.1% of all crashes. 'Rear-end (front to rear)' collisions were the second most common, with 24 incidents (13.1%). 'Sideswipe, same direction' incidents also occurred frequently, totaling 17 crashes (9.3%).

The most common pre-crash action reported for vehicles was 'Movement essentially straight,' accounting for 161 instances. Other notable actions included 'Stopped in traffic,' 'Negotiating a curve,' and 'Legally Parked,' each reported in 7 instances. This indicates that a large number of crashes occurred while vehicles were traveling straight.

Drivers constituted the overwhelming majority of persons involved in crashes, with 288 individuals, representing 95.7% of all persons. Passengers accounted for 13 individuals, making up 4.3% of the total. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the person types.

Among the 57 persons for whom injury severity was recorded, there were 7 serious injuries (A), 23 minor injuries (B), and 26 possible injuries (C). In total, 56 persons sustained some level of injury. No fatalities were recorded at the person level, aligning with the overall fatality count.

A significant majority of crashes, 130 incidents, were single-vehicle events, representing 71.0% of all crashes. Two-vehicle crashes accounted for 48 incidents. There were also a few multi-vehicle incidents, including one crash involving 4 vehicles and another involving 5 vehicles.