Sparta Police Chief's Initial Analysis of Crash Data from 2021 to June 2024

SPARTA, NJ – An initial review of the crash data revealed some patterns according to Sparta Police Chief Jeff McCarrick, including day of the week and time of day when crashes are most prevalent.

He emphasized, in addition to having the police evaluate areas with high crash numbers to see if improvements can be recommended, increasing public awareness of these areas.

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“The data over the three and a half years showed most crashes occurred on the Lafayette Road section of State Route 15 with a total of 315 or 13.31% of crashes occurred there,” McCarrick said. The Lafayette Road section of Route 15 is between the railroad tracks where Route 15 becomes to a two-lane road, past North Village to the township line beyond Father John's Lane.

A breakdown of the number of crashes on Lafayette Road/ Route 15, by year:

• 2021 – 79 of the total 640 or 12.34%
• 2022 – 89 of the total 735 or 12.10%
• 2023 – 106 of the total 668 or 15.58%
• 2024 – January to June 15 – 41of the total 325 or 12.61%

During the three and a half year time frame, most crashes, 427 or 18.04%, happened on Friday.  The most crashes happened between 3 and 4 p.m.: 239 or 10.10%.

The intersections with the most crashes in each year studied:

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• 2021 —The intersection of Sparta Junction (a/k/a County Route 517) and Sparta Avenue (a/k/a State Route 181/Lafayette Road) had the most crashes with a total of 9
• 2022 —The intersection of Lafayette Road (a/k/a State Route 15) and North Village Boulevard had the most crashes with a total of 9
• 2023 —The intersection of Lafayette Road (a/k/a State Route 15) and North Village Boulevard had the most crashes with a total of 8
• 2024 (January 1 to  June 15)—North Church Road (a/k/a State Route 94) and White Lake Road had the most crashes with a total of 4

While each crash is handled on a case by case basis, McCarrick said minor vehicle crashes require one or two officers and can take 30 minutes to an hour to handle at the scene.

“That includes officer response, information gathering, possible tow of a disabled vehicle, writing the report and any follow-up,” Mc Carrick said. “Of course there is an administrative end with two layers of report review and review of the entire incident, including a body worn camera review.”

A more serious crash that involves injuries or lane closures, more personnel will typically be involved, he said.  The fire department is dispatched when an extraction is required and for some safety issues.

Serious crashes take much more time.  Crashes with injuries require the fire department and EMS to be involved, McCarrick said.  After the injured are taken for medical attention and a vehicle is towed, the debris needs to be cleaned from the road.

Sometimes roads are closed.  Sometimes utility companies have to be called to the scene if a crash involves damage to a utility pole.

“All of this takes time,” the chief said.  “Fatal motor vehicle crashes obviously take an abundance of time and resources.”

McCarrick said they will next be looking into the causes of the reported crashes in an effort to make Sparta’s roads safer through education and remediation of problematic road conditions, where possible.

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