707 CRASHES IN
IOWA, IA
2015

In 2015, all 11 traffic fatalities in Warren County were motorists. In addition to the fatalities, 218 motorists were injured. No cyclists or pedestrians were killed in crashes during this period. However, 5 cyclists and 3 pedestrians sustained injuries in traffic collisions.

Crash frequencies in Warren County show distinct daily and weekly patterns. The data indicates a peak day for crashes on Friday, which saw 127 incidents over the year. On a daily basis, the most common time for a crash was the 4 p.m. hour, with 61 crashes, aligning with the evening commute. A significant number of crashes, 412 out of 707, occurred during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes in Warren County did not result in physical injury. Of the 707 total crashes, 519 (73.4%) were classified as 'No Injury' or property-damage-only. The remaining incidents involved possible injuries (96 crashes), minor injuries (65 crashes), or serious injuries (18 crashes). There were 9 separate fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 11 fatalities, indicating at least one incident involved multiple deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 9 fatal crash events resulted in 11 persons killed.

The leading contributing factor identified in Warren County crashes was 'Animal,' accounting for 148 incidents (20.9%). Following this, 'Lost Control' was cited in 65 crashes (9.2%). Failure to yield the right-of-way was also a significant factor, with 43 crashes (6.1%) attributed to failing to yield from a stop sign and another 43 crashes (6.1%) related to failing to yield while making a left turn.

Most crashes in Warren County during this period occurred under favorable conditions. Specifically, 413 crashes (58.4%) happened in clear weather, and 456 crashes (64.5%) were on dry road surfaces. Similarly, 412 incidents (58.3%) took place in daylight. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 40 crashes noted during rain, 17 during snow, and a combined 92 crashes occurring on wet, snowy, icy, or slush-covered roads.

Analysis of the 1,390 people involved in crashes shows the 45-54 age group was the most represented with 210 individuals, followed closely by the 26-34 age group with 207 individuals. Among the 1,142 vehicles involved, Chevrolet (284 vehicles, combining 'CHEV' and 'CHEVROLET' entries) and Ford (214 vehicles) were the most frequently recorded makes. Dodge vehicles (combining 'DODG' and 'DODGE') were also common, with 79 involved in collisions.

The primary major causes of crashes in Warren County were led by interactions with animals, which was cited in 148 incidents. The second most common cause was a driver losing control of their vehicle, contributing to 65 crashes. Failure to yield was also a prominent factor, with 43 crashes resulting from failing to yield at a stop sign and another 43 from failing to yield while making a left turn.

The most frequent first harmful event in Warren County crashes was a 'Collision with a Vehicle in traffic,' which occurred in 346 incidents. The second most common event was a 'Collision with an Animal,' recorded in 141 crashes. Collisions with fixed objects were also common, with the most frequent being collisions with a ditch (57 crashes).

The majority of crashes in Warren County occurred at non-intersection locations. Approximately 58% of crashes (410 incidents) happened on straight or curved road segments away from any junction. In contrast, about 25.5% of crashes (180 incidents) occurred within or related to an intersection, with four-way intersections being the most common type, accounting for 119 of these crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 537 of the 1,142 vehicles. Light trucks and sport utility vehicles were also frequently involved, with 219 and 214 vehicles respectively. Combined, these three categories represent nearly 85% of all vehicles in collisions. Larger vehicles were less common, with 29 tractor-trailers and 12 motorcycles involved in crashes.

A substantial number of crashes occurred where no traffic controls were present, with 696 such incidents reported. For crashes at controlled locations, traffic signals were present in 166 cases and stop signs were a factor in 124 cases. This indicates that the majority of collisions took place on road segments without signals or stop signs.

The front of the vehicle was the most common point of impact, recorded as the most-damaged area in 292 incidents. This suggests a high prevalence of head-on or frontal-offset collisions. The rear of the vehicle was the primary damage area in 148 cases, indicative of rear-end collisions, while side impacts accounted for at least 106 crashes.

Driver impairment was a recorded factor in 26 crashes, representing 3.7% of all incidents in Warren County. Among these, alcohol was the sole impairing substance in 22 cases. An additional 3 crashes involved a combination of alcohol and drugs, and 1 crash involved drugs alone.

Crash data for Warren County shows that incidents were concentrated in its larger municipalities. Indianola had the highest number of crashes with 212, followed by Norwalk with 72 crashes. The portions of Des Moines and Carlisle within the county recorded 53 and 27 crashes, respectively.

The vast majority of crashes occurred on paved roadways, which accounted for 654 incidents. However, a notable 52 crashes, or 7.4% of the total, took place on unpaved surfaces such as gravel or dirt roads, reflecting the county's rural road network.

In a minority of crashes, specific roadway factors were noted as contributors. The most common was 'Surface condition (e.g. wet, icy),' cited in 55 crashes. Work zones were also a factor, with 26 crashes occurring in roadway work zones.

Among drivers where a condition other than 'apparently normal' was recorded, impairment and fatigue were the most common. Twenty-four drivers were noted as being under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, 16 drivers were identified as being asleep or fatigued at the time of the crash.

The estimated property damage was recorded for all 707 crashes. The most common damage category was '$1,500 - $7,500,' which applied to 495 crashes. A total of 180 crashes resulted in damages between $7,500 and $25,000, while 19 crashes involved high-cost damages exceeding $25,000.

Single-vehicle, non-collision events were the most common type of crash, accounting for 275 incidents, or 38.9% of the total. These typically include running off the road or rollovers. The second most frequent manner of collision was a rear-end crash, which occurred in 145 cases (20.5%).

An analysis of the actions of the 1,142 vehicles prior to collision shows that the majority were engaged in normal driving maneuvers. The most common pre-crash action was 'Movement essentially straight,' recorded for 666 vehicles. The next most frequent actions were 'Turning left' (101 vehicles) and being 'Stopped in traffic' (57 vehicles).

Of the 1,390 people involved in crashes, the vast majority were vehicle drivers. Drivers accounted for 1,317 individuals, or 94.7% of all persons. Passengers made up 4.6% of the total with 64 individuals, while pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorists collectively represented less than 1% of those involved.

Among the 1,390 people involved in traffic crashes, 11 sustained fatal injuries (0.8%) and 227 sustained non-fatal injuries (16.3%). The non-fatal injuries included 22 serious injuries, 81 minor injuries, and 124 possible injuries. The remaining individuals were either uninjured or their injury status was not recorded.

Based on a subset of 176 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was documented, 19 individuals (10.8%) were recorded as using no restraints. The majority in this subset, 148 people, were using a shoulder and lap belt. The low number of records prevents a broader conclusion about restraint use across all crash participants.

Two-vehicle collisions were the most common crash configuration, accounting for 363 of the 707 total incidents. Single-vehicle crashes were also very frequent, with 312 incidents, representing 44.1% of all crashes. Multi-vehicle pileups involving three or more vehicles were less common, occurring 32 times.