Winthrop Harbor, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Winthrop Harbor: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Winthrop Harbor and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Illinois
Lake County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.2% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.7% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Lake County sits below Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Winthrop Harbor at a glance: 2.8× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Winthrop Harbor (1.5 → 4.2).
Overview
Police reported 3,005 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 1,469 people were injured and 88 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
Winthrop Harbor had 3 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Lake County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.9%).
November through March accounts for 41.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 11.2% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Winthrop Harbor with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-41 (4), I-41 (3) and CR-19 Russell Rd (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 52 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Their busiest month is December, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Winthrop Harbor fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 11.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-41 | 4 |
| I-41 | 3 |
| CR-19 Russell Rd | 2 |
| SR-131 | 2 |
| CR-17 | 1 |
| CR-22 (Delany Rd) | 1 |
| CR-27 | 1 |
| CR-Q 104Th St | 1 |
| Genesee Street | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 533 |
| Skokie Valley Rd | 48 |
| Green Bay Rd | 40 |
| Deerfield Rd | 38 |
| SR-41 | 36 |
| Skokie Hwy | 36 |
| Waukegan Rd | 33 |
| Belvidere Rd | 31 |
Winthrop Harbor at a glance
| Population | 6,565 |
| Land area | 4.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,412 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60096) | $95,601 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60096) | $251,396 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 137 | — | 6.0 |
| 2000s | 259 | +89% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 241 | -7% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 248 | +3% | 9.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 137 a year in the 1990s and 248 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Winthrop Harbor
How many truck crashes happen in Winthrop Harbor?
Lake County has had 3,005 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,469 people and killing 88.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Winthrop Harbor?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Winthrop Harbor since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Winthrop Harbor?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Winthrop Harbor?
52 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Winthrop Harbor compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 36.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Winthrop Harbor?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.