Wakarusa, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wakarusa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wakarusa 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 stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Elkhart County: November more garbage-truck crashes happen in November than in any other month (17%).
Overview
Elkhart County has recorded 1,956 truck crashes since 2015, with 815 people injured and 63 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 42 truck crashes were reported in Wakarusa since 2015; patterns below come from Elkhart County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.6% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
14.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wakarusa since 2015: CR-17 (2), CR-40 (2), SR-119 (2), US-6 (2) and Us- 6 (2). No single road stands out.
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%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 3.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Wakarusa fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most 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.
- 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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) |
|---|---|
| CR-17 | 2 |
| CR-40 | 2 |
| SR-119 | 2 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| Us- 6 | 2 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-18 | 1 |
| CR-26 | 1 |
| CR-42 | 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 |
Wakarusa at a glance
| Population | 2,006 |
| Land area | 2.2 sq mi |
| Density | 910 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46573) | $85,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46573) | $241,514 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 89 a year in the 1990s and 155 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 4.5 a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wakarusa
How many truck crashes happen in Wakarusa?
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Elkhart County (815 injured, 63 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Wakarusa?
January has the most truck crashes in Elkhart County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wakarusa?
59 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Elkhart County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Wakarusa compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Elkhart County records 81.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Wakarusa?
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.