Cross Plains, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cross Plains: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cross Plains and Ripley County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ripley County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
20 of 320 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ripley County compares with Indiana
Ripley County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ripley County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ripley County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 94.0 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.0% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Ripley County has lower values than Indiana for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Ripley County at a glance: 1 in 16 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 6.3%, vs 2.4% in Indiana.
Overview
Ripley County has recorded 320 truck crashes since 2015, with 114 people injured and 15 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 13 days in fully reported years.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Cross Plains since 2015, this page uses Ripley County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 12.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 6.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
7.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cross Plains since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-129 (2), US-421 (1) and US-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 20 crashes, 6.2% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (20% of them).
Route planning tips for Cross Plains fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 26.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Ripley County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-129 | 2 |
| US-421 | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ripley County) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 44 |
| US-50 | 32 |
| US-421 | 20 |
| US-50W | 19 |
| US-421N | 12 |
| US-50E | 10 |
| US-421S | 9 |
| I-74W | 9 |
Cross Plains at a glance
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47017) | $94,926 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47017) | $235,392 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ripley 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 | 10 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 19 | +88% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 26 | +34% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 25 | -3% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 25 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cross Plains
How common are truck crashes in Cross Plains?
320 truck crashes have been reported in Ripley County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 114 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Cross Plains?
The worst month is February: 12.5% of truck crashes in Ripley County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cross Plains?
Since 2015, Ripley County has reported 20 garbage-truck crashes, or 6.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Cross Plains compare with Indiana?
Ripley County records 94.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cross Plains?
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.