Columbus, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 734 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Columbus compares with Indiana
Columbus against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbus stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbus | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 123.3 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.8% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 45% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.4% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.4% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.2% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 18% below the state |
| After dark | 31.1% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Columbus has lower values than Indiana for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr and injuries per crash.
Columbus at a glance: 1 in 88 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.1%, vs 2.4% in Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 734 crashes involving commercial trucks in Columbus since 2015: 317 people were injured and 19 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 35.2% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.8% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Columbus since 2015: I-65 (3), I-65S (3), SR-46 (3), I-65N (2) and US-31 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Columbus fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Columbus
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 3 |
| I-65S | 3 |
| SR-46 | 3 |
| I-65N | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| 25th Street | 1 |
| CR-LOWELL Rd | 1 |
| E State St | 1 |
| I- 65 | 1 |
| Long Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbus) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 162 |
| I-65N | 106 |
| I-65S | 102 |
| SR-46 | 23 |
| US-31 | 22 |
| US-31N | 13 |
| US-31S | 12 |
| SR-46W | 11 |
Columbus at a glance
| Population | 51,970 |
| Land area | 28.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,813 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbus 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 | 15 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 36 | +142% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 55 | +53% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 55 | -1% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 15 a year in the 1990s and 55 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbus
How common are truck crashes in Columbus?
Since 2015, 734 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Columbus (317 injured, 19 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Columbus?
Truck crashes in Columbus peak in August, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Columbus?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Columbus since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Columbus compare with Indiana?
Columbus records 123.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Columbus?
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.