568 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

Of the individuals killed or seriously injured (KSI), motorists comprised the vast majority. The data reports 5 motorists were killed and 201 were injured. In comparison, no pedestrians or cyclists were killed, though 3 pedestrians sustained injuries. No cyclist injuries were recorded in this period.

Crash analysis reveals distinct temporal patterns, with Tuesday being the most frequent day for incidents, accounting for 98 of the 568 total crashes. The peak hour for crashes was 6 p.m., with 48 incidents, aligning with evening commute times. While a majority of crashes (289) occurred during daylight, a significant number, 153 crashes, happened in dark conditions, either on lighted or unlighted roadways.

The majority of crashes in this period did not result in injury, with 412 incidents (72.5%) classified as 'No Injury'. The remaining crashes involved possible, minor, or serious injuries, totaling 152 incidents. Four crashes were classified as fatal, which resulted in a total of five fatalities, highlighting that a single crash event can lead to multiple deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 4 fatal crash events resulted in 5 persons killed.

The leading contributing factor cited in crashes was an animal, involved in 109 incidents (19.2%). Following this, common factors included running off the road, which accounted for a combined 101 crashes between straight and left departures, and loss of control, cited in 54 crashes (9.5%). Driving too fast for conditions was also a significant factor, contributing to 51 crashes (9.0%).

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 51.9% (295 crashes) happening in clear weather and 56.7% (322 crashes) on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 289 crashes (50.9%) took place during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were also present, with snow reported in 46 crashes, rain in 34, and a total of 153 crashes occurring in dark conditions.

Among the 1,028 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 170 individuals. Analysis of the 815 vehicles involved shows Ford was the most frequent make, with 141 vehicles. Chevrolet vehicles were also common, listed as 'CHEV' in 91 instances and 'CHEVROLET' in 63 instances, followed by Dodge with 42 vehicles.

The primary major cause of crashes was interaction with an animal, accounting for 109 incidents (19.2%). The next most frequent causes were running off the road straight (60 crashes, 10.6%), losing control (54 crashes, 9.5%), and driving too fast for conditions (51 crashes, 9.0%). These top four factors represent over 48% of all crashes with a determined cause.

The most common first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in traffic, which occurred in 210 crashes. The second most frequent event was a collision with an animal, recorded in 108 incidents. Run-off-road events were also prevalent, with overturns or rollovers (39), and collisions with ditches (41) or cable barriers (37) being significant categories.

The majority of crashes, 323 out of 568 (56.9%), occurred at non-junction locations, indicating they happened on straight or curved road segments rather than at intersections. Four-way intersections were the most common crash site among junction types, accounting for 77 incidents, followed by T-intersections with 23 crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 395 of the 815 vehicles. Light trucks and SUVs were also frequently involved, with 131 pickups and 120 sport utility vehicles recorded. Notably, 58 tractor/semi-trailers and 15 motorcycles were also involved in crashes during this period.

A substantial majority of crashes, 537 incidents, occurred where no traffic controls were present. For crashes at locations with controls, stop signs were the most common type, present in 87 incidents. Traffic signals were a factor in 38 crashes.

The front of the vehicle was the most frequent area of initial impact, recorded as the most damaged area in 176 vehicles. Front-corner impacts were also common, with 68 on the driver's side and 64 on the passenger's side. Rear impacts, indicative of rear-end collisions, were noted as the most damaged area on 50 vehicles, while side impacts were recorded on 94 vehicles (54 driver side, 40 passenger side).

Driver impairment was suspected in 17 crashes, representing 3.0% of the total. Of these, alcohol was the sole factor in 16 incidents, while a combination of alcohol and drugs was suspected in one case. These figures represent a minimum count, as impairment is often difficult to determine at the scene.

Within Jasper County, the city of Newton recorded the highest number of crashes, with 173 incidents. Other municipalities with notable crash volumes include Prairie City with 29 crashes and Colfax with 27 crashes. A significant portion of crashes occurred in unincorporated areas of the county and are not attributed to a specific city.

The vast majority of crashes, 525 out of 568, occurred on paved roadways. However, a notable 43 crashes, representing 7.6% of the total, took place on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt roads, reflecting the county's rural road network.

Among crashes where a roadway factor was identified as a contributor, adverse surface conditions such as wet or icy roads were the most common, cited in 73 incidents. Work zones were a contributing factor in 13 crashes, and debris on the roadway was noted in 9 crashes. For most crashes, no specific roadway factor was identified.

In cases where a driver's condition was noted as something other than 'apparently normal,' the most common factor was being asleep or fatigued, recorded for 23 drivers. The second most frequent condition was being under the influence of alcohol, noted for 20 drivers. Other recorded conditions included medical issues (9 drivers) and emotional distress (7 drivers).

The most common estimated property damage cost was in the '$1,500 - $7,500' range, which applied to 399 crashes, or 70.2% of the total. A smaller number of incidents resulted in higher costs, with 136 crashes causing damage between $7,500 and $25,000, and 15 crashes (2.6%) exceeding $25,000 in estimated damage.

Single-vehicle, non-collision events were the dominant manner of crash, accounting for 307 incidents or 54% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, rear-end collisions were the most frequent type with 69 incidents (12.1%), followed closely by broadside (front-to-side) collisions with 64 incidents (11.3%).

The most common pre-crash action for the 815 vehicles involved was moving straight, which was the case for 525 vehicles (64.4%). Turning left was the action for 45 vehicles, and turning right for 27 vehicles. These actions represent the state of vehicles immediately prior to the crash sequence.

Drivers constituted the vast majority of individuals involved in crashes, with 960 of the 1,028 total persons being vehicle operators (93.4%). Passengers accounted for 65 individuals (6.3%), and pedestrians made up a small fraction with 3 individuals (0.3%).

Out of 1,028 people involved in crashes, 209 sustained some level of harm. This includes 5 fatalities (0.5% of all persons) and 204 individuals with injuries ranging from possible to serious (19.8% of all persons). The remaining individuals were not reported as injured.

Among the 160 individuals for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 129 were noted as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 21 individuals, or 13.1% of this group, were recorded as using no safety restraints at the time of the crash.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most common type of incident, accounting for 331 of the 568 total crashes (58.3%). Two-vehicle collisions were also frequent, with 229 incidents (40.3%). Crashes involving three or more vehicles were rare, with only 8 such events recorded.