Washington Township, Elkhart County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington Township, Elkhart County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Washington 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 |
Elkhart County sits below Indiana on after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Washington Township, Elkhart County: US-20 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Washington: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Elkhart County. They injured 815 people and killed 63.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Washington Township, Elkhart County since 2015; patterns below come from Elkhart County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.6% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
Road surface: 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
US-20 leads within 10 miles of Washington with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-80 (4), CR-17 (3) and SR-120 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 59 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Their busiest month is November, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Washington Township, Elkhart County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Elkhart County.
- Look at alternatives to US-20 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.
- 28.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 5 |
| I-80 | 4 |
| CR-17 | 3 |
| SR-120 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| 3rd St | 1 |
| CR-18 | 1 |
| CR-35 | 1 |
| CR-7 | 1 |
| CR-CASSOPOLIS Rd | 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 |
Washington Township, Elkhart County at a glance
| Population | 6,979 |
| Land area | 25.3 sq mi |
| Density | 276 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46507) | $82,683 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46507) | $251,949 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 89 to 155. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.5 a year in 2016–19, 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Washington Township, Elkhart County
How many truck crashes happen in Washington 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 Washington Township, Elkhart County?
NHTSA data shows US-20 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Washington since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington 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 Washington Township, Elkhart County?
Since 2015, Elkhart County has reported 59 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Washington Township, Elkhart County compared with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Elkhart County has 81.7 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Washington Township, Elkhart County?
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.