Elwood, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elwood: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elwood and Madison County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Madison County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Madison County compares with Indiana
Madison County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Madison County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Madison County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 33% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.7% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 27% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.9% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, Madison County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
The headline for Elwood: SR-28 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Elwood: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 846 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Madison County. They injured 320 people and killed 20.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Elwood since 2015; patterns below come from Madison County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.7% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
7.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-28 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-213 (2), Monroe St (1) and SR-37 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 27 of the truck crashes here, or 3.2%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (22%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Elwood fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-28 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Madison County.
- 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 Madison County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-28 | 3 |
| SR-213 | 2 |
| Monroe St | 1 |
| SR-37 | 1 |
| SR-37S | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Madison County) |
|---|---|
| I-69 | 166 |
| I-69S | 71 |
| I-69N | 54 |
| SR-28 | 23 |
| SR-13S | 14 |
| SR-9 | 13 |
| SR-9N | 13 |
| Main | 10 |
Elwood at a glance
| Population | 8,495 |
| Land area | 4.0 sq mi |
| Density | 2,127 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46036) | $62,074 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46036) | $118,160 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Madison 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 | 21 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 51 | +148% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 64 | +25% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 66 | +3% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 66 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 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elwood
How common are truck crashes in Elwood?
Madison County has had 846 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 320 people and killing 20.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Elwood?
NHTSA data shows SR-28 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elwood since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Elwood?
October has the most truck crashes in Madison County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elwood?
Garbage trucks were involved in 27 reported crashes in Madison County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does Elwood compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 54.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Madison County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Elwood?
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.