West Lafayette, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Lafayette: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 287 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How West Lafayette compares with Indiana
West Lafayette against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where West Lafayette stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | West Lafayette | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 22% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.8% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.8% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, West Lafayette is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in West Lafayette: 5.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.9 across Indiana.
Overview
West Lafayette has recorded 287 truck crashes since 2015, with 102 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 15 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.8%).
November through March accounts for 44.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.8% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-65 leads within 10 miles of West Lafayette with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-65S (2), US-231 (2) and 9th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Route planning tips for West Lafayette fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-65 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 West Lafayette
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 4 |
| I-65S | 2 |
| US-231 | 2 |
| 9th St | 1 |
| Mccarty Lane | 1 |
| Mu-Robinson St | 1 |
| Mu-Schuyler Ave | 1 |
| Mu-Veterans Memorial | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| Schuyler Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (West Lafayette) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 102 |
| US-231 | 14 |
| Sagamore Pkwy | 14 |
| I-65S | 14 |
| Sagamore Pky | 11 |
| I-65N | 10 |
| S River Rd | 9 |
| River | 9 |
West Lafayette at a glance
| Population | 46,338 |
| Land area | 13.6 sq mi |
| Density | 3,418 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in West Lafayette 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 | 6 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +79% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 22 | +97% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 26 | +18% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 26 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Lafayette
How many truck crashes happen in West Lafayette?
Since 2015, 287 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in West Lafayette (102 injured, 14 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in West Lafayette?
NHTSA data shows I-65 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Lafayette since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in West Lafayette?
May has the most truck crashes in West Lafayette, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in West Lafayette?
Since 2015, West Lafayette has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in West Lafayette compared with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, West Lafayette has 53.6 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in West Lafayette?
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.