ZIP 46381 (Thayer, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46381: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Newton 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
3.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Newton County compares with Indiana
Newton County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Newton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Newton County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 216.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 2.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 8.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 3.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.2% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 33.9% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, Newton County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Newton County: 1 in 12 garbage-truck share of crashes is 8.3%, against 2.4% for Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 353 crashes involving commercial trucks in Newton County since 2015: 156 people were injured and 17 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 5.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.7% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
15.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-65 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46381 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-10 (2), SR-55 (2) and US-41 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 8.2% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (24%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.6, vs 4.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46381 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Newton County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-65; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Newton County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 15.2% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Newton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 3 |
| SR-10 | 2 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| US-41 | 2 |
| I-65S | 1 |
| SR-10E | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-231 | 1 |
| Sr- 2 | 1 |
| US-231 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Newton County) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 81 |
| I-65 | 39 |
| SR-10 | 25 |
| US-41N | 25 |
| US-41S | 19 |
| SR-10W | 15 |
| SR-14 | 11 |
| State Rd 10 | 8 |
ZIP 46381 at a glance
| Population | 212 |
| Density | 38 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,821 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Newton 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 | 18 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 30 | +72% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 32 | +5% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 28 | -10% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 28 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46381
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46381?
Since 2015, 353 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Newton County (156 injured, 17 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46381?
I-65 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46381 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46381?
Truck crashes in Newton County peak in January, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46381?
Since 2015, Newton County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 8.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46381 compare with Indiana?
Newton County records 216.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46381?
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.