767 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, 11 motorists were killed and 237 were injured in crashes. Among vulnerable road users, there were no pedestrian or cyclist fatalities reported. However, 5 pedestrians and 4 cyclists sustained injuries in traffic incidents.

Crashes in Lee County occurred most frequently on Mondays and Fridays, with each day recording 121 incidents. The evening commute hour of 5 p.m. was the peak time for crashes, with 62 incidents. While the majority of crashes (369) happened during daylight, a notable number of crashes, 154 in total, occurred in dark conditions, whether the roadway was lighted or not.

Of the 767 total crashes, 10 (1.3%) were fatal crashes, and an additional 192 crashes (25%) resulted in some level of injury. The majority of incidents, 565 crashes or 73.7%, resulted in no injuries. The 10 fatal crashes led to a total of 11 fatalities, indicating at least one crash involved multiple deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 10 fatal crash events resulted in 11 persons killed.

Collisions with animals were the leading contributing factor, cited in 221 crashes (28.8%). Following this, driver-related factors such as losing control (57 crashes), following too closely (53 crashes), and running off the road (41 crashes) were the next most common causes. Failures to yield right-of-way from a stop sign were also significant, contributing to 34 crashes.

The majority of crashes occurred under ideal conditions, with 364 (47.5%) happening in clear weather and 400 (52.2%) on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 369 crashes (48.1%) took place during daylight hours. Adverse weather conditions like rain (43 crashes) and snow (28 crashes) were less frequent, as were wet (60 crashes) and snowy/icy road surfaces (74 crashes combined).

Drivers aged 26-34 were the most frequently involved group in crashes, accounting for 227 of the individuals where age was recorded. Among vehicle makes, Ford (203) and Chevrolet (197) were the most common, followed by Dodge (70) and GMC (54). These figures represent the vehicles involved in crashes and do not reflect overall vehicle population or market share.

The most frequently cited major cause for crashes was an animal in the roadway, accounting for 221 incidents. Other leading causes included losing control (57 crashes), following too closely (53 crashes), and running off the road to the left (41 crashes). Driving too fast for conditions was a factor in 35 crashes.

The most common first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in traffic, occurring in 276 crashes. The second most frequent event was a collision with an animal, noted in 218 incidents. Collisions with fixed objects were also prevalent, with ditches being the most common fixed object struck (45 crashes), followed by trees (10 crashes).

Crashes were more likely to occur away from intersections, with 334 incidents (43.5%) happening on non-junction road segments. Four-way intersections were the most common crash site among junction types, accounting for 98 crashes. T-intersections were the site of another 37 crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 511 units recorded. Light trucks and SUVs were also frequently involved, with 261 four-tire light trucks and 203 sport utility vehicles documented. Tractor/semi-trailers were involved in 29 crashes, while motorcycles were involved in 10.

A significant majority of crashes, 674 out of 767, occurred where no traffic controls were present. In locations with traffic controls, stop signs were the most common, present at the scene of 138 crashes. Traffic signals were present for 93 crashes.

The front of the vehicle was the most common area of damage, recorded in 229 incidents. Rear-end collisions were also significant, with the rear being the most damaged area in 103 crashes. Damage to the front-driver side corner (90 incidents) and front-passenger side corner (84 incidents) suggests a high number of angle or turning-related impacts.

Impairment was suspected in 32 crashes, representing approximately 4.2% of total incidents. Alcohol was the suspected impairment in 31 of these cases, while drugs were suspected in one case. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment is often difficult to determine at the scene.

The highest volume of crashes within Lee County occurred in Keokuk, with 203 incidents, and Fort Madison, with 193 incidents. Smaller municipalities like Montrose (20 crashes), Donnellson (16 crashes), and West Point (7 crashes) recorded significantly fewer events. A large number of crashes occurred in unincorporated areas and are not included in these city-specific totals.

The vast majority of crashes, 710 out of 762 with specified road surface types, occurred on paved roadways. Crashes on unpaved surfaces, such as gravel or dirt roads, accounted for 52 incidents, representing approximately 6.8% of the total where surface type was known.

Among crashes where a roadway factor was noted, surface conditions such as wet or icy roads were the leading contributor, cited in 64 incidents. Other factors were cited infrequently, with slippery or loose surfaces contributing to 3 crashes and shoulder defects contributing to 2. In most crashes, no roadway factor was identified as a contributor.

While most drivers were recorded as 'apparently normal,' a driver condition was noted in a subset of crashes. Among these, driving under the influence of alcohol was the most frequent, recorded for 38 drivers. Driver fatigue or being asleep was noted for 14 drivers, and an emotional state was recorded for 10 drivers.

The most common estimated property damage cost was in the $1,500 to $7,500 range, which applied to 619 crashes. A smaller but significant number of crashes, 101, resulted in damages between $7,500 and $25,000. Ten crashes were estimated to have caused damage exceeding $25,000.

Single-vehicle, non-collision events, which often involve running off the road, were the most common crash type, accounting for 310 incidents (40.4%). Among multi-vehicle crashes, rear-end collisions were the most frequent, with 124 incidents (16.2%), followed by broadside collisions with 97 incidents (12.6%).

The majority of vehicles involved in crashes, 625 in total, were moving straight ahead immediately prior to the incident. The next most common pre-crash action was being legally parked, with 99 vehicles involved. Vehicles turning left (78) or stopped in traffic (43) were also frequently involved in collisions.

Of the 1,429 individuals involved in crashes, the vast majority, 1,361, were drivers. Passengers accounted for 59 individuals, while vulnerable road users included 5 pedestrians and 4 bicyclists. This highlights that most incidents involved vehicle occupants.

Across all 1,429 people involved in crashes, 11 individuals sustained fatal injuries. An additional 13 people suffered serious injuries, 87 had minor injuries, and 146 had possible injuries. A small number of non-drivers, 6 in total, were recorded with no injuries.

Based on the available data for safety equipment use, 137 occupants were recorded as using both a shoulder and lap belt. Conversely, 22 individuals were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. The data on this topic is limited and does not cover all occupants.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most common type, with 399 incidents, representing 52% of all crashes. Two-vehicle collisions were also frequent, accounting for 332 crashes. Multi-vehicle pile-ups were rare, with only one crash involving 4 vehicles and one involving 6 vehicles.