Union Township, Elkhart County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union Township, Elkhart County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union Township, Elkhart County and Elkhart County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Elkhart County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Elkhart County compares with Indiana
Elkhart County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Elkhart County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Elkhart County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.7 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.2% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.2% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Indiana, Elkhart County is lower on after dark. It runs above Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Union Township, Elkhart County: 1.7× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Union: 1.8 in 2016–19, 3.0 in 2020–24.
Overview
Police reported 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks in Elkhart County since 2015: 815 people were injured and 63 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Union Township, Elkhart County since 2015, this page uses Elkhart County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
14.3% 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 Union is US-6, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-17 (2), CR-40 (2) and SR-119 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 59 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (17%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Union Township, Elkhart County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-6 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Elkhart County.
- Morning starts matter: 28.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 14.3% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Elkhart County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 6 |
| CR-17 | 2 |
| CR-40 | 2 |
| SR-119 | 2 |
| SR-15 | 2 |
| Us- 6 | 2 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-38 | 1 |
| CR-42 | 1 |
| CR-800 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Elkhart County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 245 |
| US-20 | 207 |
| US-33 | 110 |
| US-6 | 77 |
| SR-15 | 71 |
| SR-13 | 59 |
| SR-19 | 47 |
| SR-120 | 47 |
Union Township, Elkhart County at a glance
| Population | 6,228 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 173 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46550) | $84,084 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46550) | $291,533 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Elkhart 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 | 89 | — | 5.4 |
| 2000s | 148 | +67% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 160 | +8% | 4.2 |
| 2020s | 155 | -3% | 5.0 |
In the 1990s about 89 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 155. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.5 a year in 2016–19, 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Union Township, Elkhart County
How common are truck crashes in Union Township, Elkhart County?
Elkhart County has had 1,956 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 815 people and killing 63.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union Township, Elkhart County?
Since 2015, US-6 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Union: 6.
When do most truck crashes happen in Union Township, Elkhart County?
Truck crashes in Elkhart County peak in January, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union Township, Elkhart County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 59 reported crashes in Elkhart County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Union Township, Elkhart County compared with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 81.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Elkhart County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Union Township, Elkhart County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.