Washington Township, Putnam County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington Township, Putnam County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Washington Township, Putnam County and Putnam County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Putnam County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 700 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Putnam County compares with Indiana
Putnam County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Putnam County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Putnam County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 153.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.0% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.9% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.3% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Putnam County has lower values than Indiana for deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Putnam County: 17.0% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 700 crashes involving commercial trucks in Putnam County since 2015: 244 people were injured and 12 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Washington Township, Putnam County since 2015, this page uses Putnam County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.9% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.0%).
Road surface: 17.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 10 miles of Washington with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-70W (2), I-70E (1) and SR-59N (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Route planning tips for Washington Township, Putnam County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam County.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 17.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 5 |
| I-70W | 2 |
| I-70E | 1 |
| SR-59N | 1 |
| US-231N | 1 |
| US-40 | 1 |
| US-40W | 1 |
| West Walnut | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 276 |
| US-231 | 32 |
| I-70 West | 25 |
| US-231S | 22 |
| I-70 East | 21 |
| I-70E | 20 |
| US-40 | 19 |
| I-70W | 18 |
Washington Township, Putnam County at a glance
| Population | 2,573 |
| Land area | 53.0 sq mi |
| Density | 49 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46171) | $83,607 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46171) | $287,990 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Putnam 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 | 14 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 30 | +119% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 51 | +72% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 59 | +15% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 59 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Washington Township, Putnam County
How many truck crashes happen in Washington Township, Putnam County?
700 truck crashes have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 244 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Washington Township, Putnam County?
NHTSA data shows I-70 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Washington since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Washington Township, Putnam County?
January has the most truck crashes in Putnam County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Washington Township, Putnam County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Putnam County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Washington Township, Putnam County compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Putnam County has 153.9 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Washington Township, Putnam County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.