Van Buren Township, Clay County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Van Buren Township, Clay County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Van Buren Township, Clay County and Clay County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Clay County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 385 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with Indiana
Clay County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 126.8 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.9 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.6% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.6% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Clay County has lower values than Indiana for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Clay County: 6.9 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.9 in Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 385 crashes involving commercial trucks in Clay County since 2015: 118 people were injured and 23 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Van Buren Township, Clay County since 2015, this page uses Clay County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 12.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 4.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.0% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 am than at any other hour (14.0%).
14.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Van Buren is I-70, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-70W (2), I-70E (1) and SR-59N (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
6 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.6% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Route planning tips for Van Buren Township, Clay County fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-70; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 14.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 7 |
| I-70W | 2 |
| I-70E | 1 |
| SR-59N | 1 |
| US-40W | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 178 |
| I-70 East | 19 |
| SR-59N | 16 |
| I-70E | 14 |
| I-70 West | 13 |
| I-70W | 13 |
| State Rd 59 | 11 |
| US-40E | 10 |
Van Buren Township, Clay County at a glance
| Population | 3,187 |
| Land area | 32.2 sq mi |
| Density | 99 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47853) | $54,583 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47853) | $135,157 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay 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 | 5 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 21 | +351% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 31 | +51% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 36 | +16% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 36. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Van Buren Township, Clay County
How many truck accidents are there in Van Buren Township, Clay County?
Clay County has had 385 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 118 people and killing 23.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Van Buren Township, Clay County?
I-70 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Van Buren since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Van Buren Township, Clay County?
July has the most truck crashes in Clay County, 12.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Van Buren Township, Clay County?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clay County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Van Buren Township, Clay County compared with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 126.8 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Van Buren Township, Clay County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.