Gary, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gary: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 2,279 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Gary compares with Indiana
Gary against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gary stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gary | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 286.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 3.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 48% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 78% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.8% | 10.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.5% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.0% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 34.1% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Gary sits below Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Gary at a glance: 1 in 192 crashes involve a garbage truck (13 since 2015), vs 2.4% across Indiana.
Overview
Gary has recorded 2,279 truck crashes since 2015, with 829 people injured and 33 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 5.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.1% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 10.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Gary with 24 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-90 (4), I-94 (4) and US-12 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.6% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Route planning tips for Gary fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Gary
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 24 |
| I-90 | 4 |
| I-94 | 4 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| US-30 | 3 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-41N | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gary) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 1,227 |
| I-65 | 135 |
| I-90 | 84 |
| I-80E | 39 |
| US-20E | 30 |
| US-12W | 25 |
| Grant | 22 |
| I-80W | 21 |
Gary at a glance
| Population | 67,555 |
| Land area | 49.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,353 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46407) | $28,526 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46407) | $59,982 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gary 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 | 115 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 182 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 155 | -15% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 217 | +40% | 8.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 115 a year in the 1990s and 217 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Gary
How common are truck crashes in Gary?
2,279 truck crashes have been reported in Gary since 2015, with 33 deaths and 829 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Gary?
I-80 had 24 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Gary since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Gary?
Truck crashes in Gary peak in February, with 10.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Gary?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Gary since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
How does Gary compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Gary records 286.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Gary?
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.