Portage Township, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portage Township: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Portage Township and St. Joseph County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County compares with Indiana
St. Joseph County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, St. Joseph County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Indiana on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
St. Joseph County at a glance: 22.3% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 10.6% in Indiana.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in St. Joseph County. They injured 658 people and killed 44.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Portage Township since 2015, this page uses St. Joseph County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 15.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.1%.
November through March accounts for 48.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come SR-2 (6), SR-51 (2) and US-12 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (11% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Portage Township fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in St. Joseph County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; adjust start times where you can.
- With 22.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| SR-2 | 6 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| Day Rd | 1 |
| Mayflower | 1 |
| Mu-Auten Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Fairview Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 318 |
| US-20 | 122 |
| SR-2 | 75 |
| US-31 | 41 |
| SR-23 | 37 |
| SR-331 | 31 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 29 |
| SR-933 | 26 |
Portage Township at a glance
| Population | 94,701 |
| Land area | 34.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,759 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 58 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 124 | +114% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 139 | +12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | -8% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 58 to 127. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portage Township
How common are truck crashes in Portage Township?
1,696 truck crashes have been reported in St. Joseph County since 2015, with 44 deaths and 658 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Portage Township?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Portage: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Portage Township?
Truck crashes in St. Joseph County peak in January, with 15.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Portage Township?
Since 2015, St. Joseph County has reported 44 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Portage Township compared with Indiana?
St. Joseph County records 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Portage Township?
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.