Salem, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 139 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Indiana
Washington County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.3% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.9% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.0% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Washington County has lower values than Indiana for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Washington County: 1 in 23 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.4%, against 2.4% for Indiana.
Overview
Since 2015, 139 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 69 people and killed 3.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 30 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Salem since 2015; patterns below come from Washington County as a whole.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 15.8% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (2.9%).
November through March accounts for 41.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 10.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 6.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Salem since 2015: SR-135 (1) and West Mulberry St (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Route planning tips for Salem fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington County.
- 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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-135 | 1 |
| West Mulberry St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| SR-56W | 10 |
| SR-60E | 10 |
| SR-135N | 6 |
| SR-60W | 5 |
| US-150 | 3 |
| SR-60 | 3 |
| SR-160E | 3 |
| Jackson | 3 |
Salem at a glance
| Population | 6,463 |
| Land area | 4.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,530 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47167) | $60,673 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47167) | $174,109 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 5 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 11 | +133% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 11 | -6% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 13 | +23% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem
How common are truck crashes in Salem?
Since 2015, 139 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (69 injured, 3 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Salem?
July has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 15.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salem?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Salem compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 43.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Salem?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.