Chester Township, Wells County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chester Township, Wells County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chester Township, Wells County and Wells County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wells County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 162 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wells County compares with Indiana
Wells County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wells County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wells County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.1 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 43% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.2% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 42% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.6% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 33% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.2% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 42% below the state |
Wells County sits below Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Wells County at a glance: August 13.6% of truck crashes happen in August, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 162 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wells County since 2015: 54 people were injured and 6 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 28 days.
Chester Township, Wells County had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Wells County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 13.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.2% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.2% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-18 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come SR-1N (1), SR-218 (1) and SR-218E (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Chester Township, Wells County fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-18 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 26.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Wells County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-1N | 1 |
| SR-218 | 1 |
| SR-218E | 1 |
| SR-3S | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wells County) |
|---|---|
| US-224 | 12 |
| State Rd 1 | 9 |
| SR-1N | 9 |
| SR-1S | 8 |
| SR-1 | 5 |
| Adams | 4 |
| SR-218 | 4 |
| US-224W | 4 |
Chester Township, Wells County at a glance
| Population | 964 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 27 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46781) | $87,768 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46781) | $189,781 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wells 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 | 6 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 11 | +82% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 11 | +1% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 14 | +29% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chester Township, Wells County
How many truck crashes happen in Chester Township, Wells County?
162 truck crashes have been reported in Wells County since 2015, with 6 deaths and 54 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chester Township, Wells County?
NHTSA data shows SR-18 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chester since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Chester Township, Wells County?
Truck crashes in Wells County peak in August, with 13.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Chester Township, Wells County?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Wells County since 2015, 3.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Chester Township, Wells County compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 46.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wells County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chester Township, Wells County?
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.