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MPO releases 2023 crash report showing 20 fatalities; staff flags higher crash rates among drivers 70–74
Summary
MPO staff presented the full 2023 crash report, noting 20 fatal crashes (a level last seen in 2013), no clear common cause across those crashes, and an observed higher‑than‑expected crash rate for drivers aged 70–74; staff also reviewed the 18‑month letting list with several letting date shifts.
MPO staff presented the full 2023 crash report at the Aug. 14 MPO Policy Board meeting, reporting that the county recorded 20 fatal crashes in 2023, a count staff said is similar to the last time the county saw that many fatalities in 2013. Aria (MPO staff) told the board: “So here we have in 2023, all crashes by severity. You can see the number of fatality crashes was 20.”
Staff said the overall crash pattern in 2023 largely returned to pre‑pandemic levels across severities: almost 1,000 injury crashes and roughly 4,100 property‑damage crashes were reported in the county’s historical table. Aria said she reviewed each fatal crash in Appendix A (page 74 of the report) and found no single common factor such as weather, a single intersection or uniform contributing cause; she told the board that with only 20 fatalities in one year, it is difficult to draw statistically robust conclusions.
Aria also presented focused analyses in the report: a high‑level comparison of crash locations with liquor stores and school zones (finding no clear correlation at the countywide level), and an age‑based analysis that showed crash counts generally matched expected volumes across age groups except for drivers aged 70–74. Aria noted an administrative threshold in state licensing rules: Indiana’s additional licensing checks typically begin at age 75. “So kind of that space between retirement and more stringent laws, I think, potentially be dangerous for people driving those ages,” she said.
Board members asked whether alcohol or other factors explained the fatality increase; Aria said she included tables on driving under the influence and other factors and pointed members to the appendix summarizing each fatal crash. She urged members to consult the report’s summary at the front for a concise overview and the appendix for per‑crash summaries.
On the MPO’s 18‑month letting list, staff reported there were no projects on the June bid letting and one INDOT project on the July letting. The North Ninth Street bridge deck replacement project (listed as Bridge 119) was added with a letting in January 2026. Several projects (items 13–16) were moved from an October 2025 letting to a May 2026 letting as part of a bundled contract; a raised pavement marking project on North River Road was listed for July 2026. Staff invited questions but INDOT staff were not present to comment further.
Why this matters: the fatality count and the age‑group finding (drivers 70–74) are flagged for local planners and safety partners as potential areas for targeted outreach or policy review. The letting list changes and the bridge deck addition indicate schedule shifts that could affect contractors and local traffic planning.
Ending: Board members had no further questions at the close of the presentation and the meeting returned to final business and adjournment.
