HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker is putting together his annual report and found a few interesting traffic statistics, so he’s shared with the media.
For example, in 2020, no fatal traffic crashes happened on a Tuesday — but four happened on a Friday, the most-dangerous day of the week for drivers in Ottawa County for three consecutive years.
Police responded to two fatal crashes each on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but just one on a Wednesday.
While the state had an increase in fatalities from last year, Ottawa County had a 30 percent decrease in deaths with 14 last year as well as a fewer fatal crashes, 13, a 35 percent drop. The big problem for drivers is speed, a fact true across Michigan, according to state police officials. Of those involved in fatal crashes, 35 percent involved drivers without insurance, according to Kempker’s report.
Of Ottawa County’s 5,753 total crashes in 2020, alcohol was involved in 126 property damage crashes, 78 injury crashes and one fatal crash — and drugs were involved in 26 property damage crashes, 25 injury crashes and 2 fatal crashes. Drivers with a combination of alcohol and drugs in their systems were involved in eight property damage crashes, 14 injury crashes, but no fatal crashes.
Compared to 2019, Ottawa County saw a 23 percent drop in traffic crashes, with 18 percent fewer injury crashes, a total of 969. and 24 percent fewer property damage incidents, 4,771.
Crashes by township/city/village (PDA=Property Damage Accident):
- Allendale Twp. – 351 PDA, 54 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 405
- Blendon Twp. – 141 PDA, 18 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 159
- Chester Twp. – 40 PDA, 9 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 49
- Crockery Twp. – 191 PDA, 38 Injury, 1 Fatal. Total crashes, 230
- Georgetown Twp. – 627 PDA, 155 Injury, 2 Fatal. Total crashes, 784
- Grand Haven Twp. – 286 PDA, 49 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 335
- Holland Twp. – 1,104 PDA, 229 Injury, 3 Fatal. Total crashes, 1,336
- Jamestown Twp. – 161 PDA, 46 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 207
- Olive Twp. – 186 PDA, 41 Injury, 2 Fatal. Total crashes, 229
- Park Twp. – 165 PDA, 38 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 203
- Polkton Twp. – 159 PDA, 20 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 179
- Port Sheldon Twp. – 95 PDA, 21 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 116
- Robinson Twp. – 131 PDA, 20 Injury, 2 Fatal. Total crashes, 153
- Spring Lake Twp. – 138 PDA, 24 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 162
- Tallmadge Twp. – 214 PDA, 45 Injury, 2 Fatal. Total crashes, 261
- Wright Twp. – 152 PDA, 44 Injury, 1 Fatal. Total crashes, 197
- Zeeland Twp. – 316 PDA, 57 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 373
- Coopersville City – 94 PDA, 13 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 107
- Ferrysburg City – 66 PDA, 11 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 77
- Hudsonville City – 134 PDA, 14 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 148
- Spring Lake Village – 46 PDA, 9 Injury, 0 Fatal. Total crashes, 55
Fatal Crashes by Year:
- 2015 17
- 2016 24
- 2017 17
- 2018 21
- 2019 20
- 2020 13
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