Chesterton, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chesterton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chesterton and Porter County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Porter 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 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Porter County compares with Indiana
Porter County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Porter County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Porter County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 99.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 45% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, Porter County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
Chesterton at a glance: 2.4× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Chesterton: 2.5 in 2016–19, 6.0 in 2020–24.
Overview
Porter County has recorded 2,058 truck crashes since 2015, with 660 people injured and 56 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Chesterton had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Porter County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Chesterton with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-20 (6), I-80 (3) and SR-49 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 1.2% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (16%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chesterton fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Porter County.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- With 15.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Porter County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 11 |
| US-20 | 6 |
| I-80 | 3 |
| SR-49 | 3 |
| SR-130 | 2 |
| SR-149 | 2 |
| US-421 | 2 |
| Us- 20 | 2 |
| CR-400N | 1 |
| Mu-Calumet Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Porter County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 581 |
| I-80 | 222 |
| US-30 | 135 |
| US-20 | 107 |
| SR-49 | 88 |
| US-6 | 43 |
| US-30W | 41 |
| US-30E | 33 |
Chesterton at a glance
| Population | 14,655 |
| Land area | 9.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,558 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46304) | $91,326 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46304) | $288,820 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Porter 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 | 82 | — | 5.8 |
| 2000s | 154 | +87% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 164 | +7% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 171 | +4% | 5.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 82 to 171. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 5.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chesterton
How many truck accidents are there in Chesterton?
Porter County has had 2,058 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 660 people and killing 56.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Chesterton?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chesterton: 11.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chesterton?
Truck crashes in Porter County peak in January, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chesterton?
Since 2015, Porter County has reported 25 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Chesterton compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Porter County has 99.9 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chesterton?
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.