ZIP 46324 (Hammond, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46324: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lake County, 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
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Indiana
Lake County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 35.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lake County sits below Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
ZIP 46324 at a glance: 2.0× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 46324 (6.5 → 13.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lake County. They injured 2,451 people and killed 108.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 9.0% of truck crashes.
12.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46324 with 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-94 (8), US-30 (6) and SR-394 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
94 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.1, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46324 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: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Lake County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 12.4% 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
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 22 |
| I-94 | 8 |
| US-30 | 6 |
| SR-394 | 5 |
| SR-1 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-294 | 3 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| US-6 | 3 |
| Brainard Ave | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2,571 |
| I-65 | 1,116 |
| I-90 | 224 |
| US-41 | 101 |
| I-94 | 89 |
| US-30 | 85 |
| I-80E | 68 |
| US-41S | 57 |
ZIP 46324 at a glance
| Population | 21,409 |
| Density | 1,896 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $63,052 |
| Median home value | $158,341 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 352 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 554 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 482 | -13% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 647 | +34% | 8.8 |
In the 1990s about 352 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 647. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.2 a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46324
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46324?
Lake County has had 6,927 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,451 people and killing 108.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46324?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 22 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46324 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 46324?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 9.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46324?
94 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46324 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 117.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46324?
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.