Union Township, St. Joseph County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union Township, St. Joseph County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union Township, St. Joseph County 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 |
St. Joseph County has lower values than Indiana for crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: 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 Union Township, St. Joseph County 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%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.8% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Union is US-6, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-6W (2), Us- 6 (2) and Beech Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
44 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Their busiest month is June, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Union Township, St. Joseph County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-6, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at June schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.6% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 22.3% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 4 |
| US-6W | 2 |
| Us- 6 | 2 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Fairview Ave | 1 |
| SR-23 | 1 |
| SR-23N | 1 |
| Sr- 4 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
| US-6E | 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 |
Union Township, St. Joseph County at a glance
| Population | 3,492 |
| Land area | 42.9 sq mi |
| Density | 81 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46536) | $78,448 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46536) | $225,129 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 58 a year in the 1990s and 127 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Union Township, St. Joseph County
How many truck crashes happen in Union Township, St. Joseph County?
St. Joseph County has had 1,696 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 658 people and killing 44.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Union Township, St. Joseph County?
US-6 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Union since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Union Township, St. Joseph County?
The worst month is January: 15.3% of truck crashes in St. Joseph County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union Township, St. Joseph County?
44 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in St. Joseph County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Union Township, St. Joseph County compare 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 Union Township, St. Joseph 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.