Intersections are among the most hazardous areas on the road due to the complexity of traffic flow and the potential for human error. This danger is particularly evident in the U.S. Midwest, where from 2004 to 2022, over 35,000 fatalities were linked to intersection-related accidents—an average of 2,000 deaths per year.
But which intersections pose the highest risk for motorists in this region?
To gain insight into the deadliest intersections in the Midwest, Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering the years 2004 to 2022.
Midwestern intersections are more prone to fatal crashes during cloudy weather than those in other regions. Around 12% of intersection-related crashes in the Midwest occurred under cloudy conditions, which are often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, or fog. These weather conditions can reduce visibility and traction, increasing the likelihood of accidents. This is especially true when large commercial vehicles are involved.
Here are the intersections with the highest number of fatal crashes during the observation period:
Fulton County, Ohio
Ward County, North Dakota
Polk County, Missouri
St. Joseph County, Indiana
Ashland County, Ohio
Ashland County, Ohio
Cedar County, Nebraska
Stone County, Missouri
Newton County, Missouri
Lawrence County, Indiana
This study is based on fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the years 2004 through 2022. Only crashes flagged as "intersection-related" by the NHTSA were included in the analysis. The Midwest, as defined by the Census Bureau, includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
This story was produced by Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.