New Chicago, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in New Chicago: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in New Chicago and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Indiana
Lake County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 35.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lake County has lower values than Indiana for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in New Chicago: I-80 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of New Chicago: 14 since 2015.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 6,927 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,451 people injured and 108 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in New Chicago since 2015; patterns below come from Lake County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 12–1 am, with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of New Chicago with 14 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-94 (8), US-12 (4) and US-30 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 94 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Their busiest month is August, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 1.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for New Chicago fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lake County.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 12.4% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 14 |
| I-94 | 8 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| US-30 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| I-65 | 2 |
| SR-130 | 2 |
| SR-149 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2,571 |
| I-65 | 1,116 |
| I-90 | 224 |
| US-41 | 101 |
| I-94 | 89 |
| US-30 | 85 |
| I-80E | 68 |
| US-41S | 57 |
New Chicago at a glance
| Population | 1,976 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 2,936 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46405) | $60,881 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46405) | $137,032 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 352 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 554 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 482 | -13% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 647 | +34% | 8.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 352 a year in the 1990s and 647 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about New Chicago
How many truck accidents are there in New Chicago?
Lake County has had 6,927 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,451 people and killing 108.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in New Chicago?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of New Chicago: 14.
Which month has the most truck crashes in New Chicago?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 9.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in New Chicago?
Garbage trucks were involved in 94 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in New Chicago compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in New Chicago?
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.