Where do most traffic crashes occur in Calhoun County? Traffic stats provide answers

Greyson Steele, Battle Creek Enquirer
·4 min read
Two injured in two-vehicle crash at M-66 and Beckley Road in 2020.
Two injured in two-vehicle crash at M-66 and Beckley Road in 2020.

Traffic crashes can occur at any intersection in Calhoun County, but some have proven to be riskier than others.

The highly trafficked intersection of Beckley Road at M-66 was the scene of more crashes than any other in 2021 with 67, 12 of which resulted in injuries, according to the Michigan State Police.

Michigan Department of Transportation data data from 2020 shows an average of 17,500 vehicles traveled on M-66 at Beckley Road every day, Nick Schirripa, spokesperson for the MDOT Southwest Region, explained Friday. The intersection's close proximity to I-94, Lakeview Square Mall and other retail spaces is an important factor when evaluating the high frequency of crashes, he said.

"It’s not just a matter of how many crashes there are at each intersection. You have to look at how many crashes there are versus how many vehicles pass through that intersection daily," Schirripa said.

"There’s a lot of movement at M-66/Beckley, a lot of movement," he continued. "If you have one motorist, one driver who isn’t familiar with that intersection, that one driver can cause a crash just by being unfamiliar and making a wrong move at the exact wrong moment. That’s all it takes."

The intersection of Beckley Road at M-66 was one of the top intersections in Calhoun County for number of crashes in 2021.
The intersection of Beckley Road at M-66 was one of the top intersections in Calhoun County for number of crashes in 2021.

Other intersections in the area also have high rates of crashes.

Capital Avenue Southwest at Columbia Avenue West recorded the second-most crashes in the county in 2021 with 26 resulting in four injuries.

Battle Creek Deputy Police Chief Troy Gilleylen said the main issues at the two intersections is likely the large amount of traffic they experience each day.

He also believes distracted driving contributes to the higher number of crashes in those areas.

"Almost everyone has a cellphone or other electronics in their car that can cause a person to become distracted," Gilleylen said. "Both intersections require attention to be paid by the drivers to know what is going on and to be able to deal with a sudden change or maneuver that needs to be made to avoid a crash."

The intersections in Calhoun County with the most crashes in 2021 include:

Beckley Road at M-66 northbound and southbound in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 67

  • Injuries: 12

  • Fatalities: 0

The intersection of Capital Avenue Southwest at Columbia Avenue West in Battle Creek was one of the intersections with the most crashes in Calhoun County in 2021.
The intersection of Capital Avenue Southwest at Columbia Avenue West in Battle Creek was one of the intersections with the most crashes in Calhoun County in 2021.

Capital Avenue Southwest at Columbia Avenue West in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 26

  • Injuries: 4

  • Fatalities: 0

Beckley Road at Capital Avenue Southwest in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 24

  • Injuries: 5

  • Fatalities: 0

6 Mile Road at B Drive North in Emmett Township

  • Crashes: 23

  • Injuries: 4

  • Fatalities: 0

Bedford Road North at Michigan Avenue West in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 22

  • Injuries: 7

  • Fatalities: 0

Columbia Avenue West at Helmer Road South in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 22

  • Injuries: 5

  • Fatalities: 0

Columbia Avenue East at Main Street in Emmett Township

  • Crashes: 20

  • Injuries: 11

  • Fatalities: 1

Helmer Road North at West Dickman Road in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 19

  • Injuries: 1

  • Fatalities: 0

Capital Avenue Northeast at East Emmett Street in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 19

  • Injuries: 4

  • Fatalities: 0

Capital Avenue Southwest at East Dickman Road in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 17

  • Injuries: 10

  • Fatalities: 0

Michigan Avenue West at South Washington Avenue in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 16

  • Injuries: 7

  • Fatalities: 0

Beckley Road at Riverside Drive in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 15

  • Injuries: 2

  • Fatalities: 0

Columbia Avenue East at Riverside Drive in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 15

  • Injuries: 4

  • Fatalities: 0

11 Mile Road at Michigan Avenue East in Emmett Township

  • Crashes: 15

  • Injuries: 1

  • Fatalities: 0

20th Street South at Columbia Avenue West in Battle Creek 

  • Crashes: 14

  • Injuries: 3

  • Fatalities: 0

Columbia Avenue West at South La Vista Boulevard in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 13

  • Injuries: 0

  • Fatalities: 0

Bedford Road South at Jackson Street West in Battle Creek

  • Crashes: 13

  • Injuries: 5

  • Fatalities: 0

Columbia Avenue East at North I-94 /Columbia ramp in Battle Creek

  • Crashes:13

  • Injuries: 2

  • Fatalities: 0

Division Street North at Hamblin Avenue West in Battle Creek

  • Crashes:12

  • Injuries: 1

  • Fatalities: 0

Data doesn't break down the cause of the crashes, but information from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning shows there were 3,422 crashes in the county in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available. Of those crashes, 936 involved deer; 133 involved alcohol; 123 involved distracted driving; and 52 involved drugs.

Top hazardous actions made by the drivers causing crashes statewide included speeding, failing to yield, being unable to stop in assured clear distance and careless or negligent driving.

"In all, we must pay attention, limit distractions, adjust speeds and drive defensively," Gilleylen said.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-501-5661. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Calhoun County crashes pile up at some high-volume intersections