ZIP 46385 (Valparaiso, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46385: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Porter 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Porter County compares with Indiana
Porter County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Porter County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Porter County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 99.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 45% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Porter County has lower values than Indiana for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for ZIP 46385: I-94 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46385 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,058 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Porter County. They injured 660 people and killed 56.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 46385 is I-94, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-30 (4), SR-130 (2) and SR-149 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
25 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.2% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in May (16% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46385 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-94, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- With 15.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Porter County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-30 | 4 |
| SR-130 | 2 |
| SR-149 | 2 |
| US-30W | 2 |
| 101st | 1 |
| Division Rd | 1 |
| Lake Park Ave | 1 |
| Mu-Calumet Ave | 1 |
| Mu-Swanson Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Porter County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 581 |
| I-80 | 222 |
| US-30 | 135 |
| US-20 | 107 |
| SR-49 | 88 |
| US-6 | 43 |
| US-30W | 41 |
| US-30E | 33 |
ZIP 46385 at a glance
| Population | 40,856 |
| Density | 195 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $98,957 |
| Median home value | $331,562 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Porter 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 | 82 | — | 5.8 |
| 2000s | 154 | +87% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 164 | +7% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 171 | +4% | 5.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 82 a year in the 1990s and 171 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46385
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46385?
2,058 truck crashes have been reported in Porter County since 2015, with 56 deaths and 660 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46385?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46385: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 46385?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Porter County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46385?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Porter County since 2015, 1.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 46385 compared with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 99.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Porter County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46385?
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.