Cates, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cates: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cates and Fountain County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Fountain County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 159 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Fountain County compares with Indiana
Fountain County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fountain County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fountain County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 82.1 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.9 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 44% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.7% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.7% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 36.2% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Indiana, Fountain County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Fountain County: 21.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 159 crashes involving commercial trucks in Fountain County since 2015: 54 people were injured and 9 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 26 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Cates since 2015, this page uses Fountain County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (4.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 55.3% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 21.7% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cates since 2015 were spread across roads: I-74 (3), US-41 (3), SR-63 (2) and I-74E (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Cates fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 21.7% 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 Fountain County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 3 |
| US-41 | 3 |
| SR-63 | 2 |
| I-74E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fountain County) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 42 |
| I-74E | 24 |
| I-74W | 22 |
| US-41 | 10 |
| US-41S | 7 |
| US-41N | 5 |
| SR-32E | 3 |
| SR-28E | 3 |
Cates at a glance
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47952) | $53,409 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47952) | $115,679 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fountain 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 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 9 | +58% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 13 | +56% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 13 | -5% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 13 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cates
How common are truck crashes in Cates?
159 truck crashes have been reported in Fountain County since 2015, with 9 deaths and 54 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Cates?
February has the most truck crashes in Fountain County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cates?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Fountain County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Cates compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Fountain County has 82.1 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cates?
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.