ZIP 46402 (Gary, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46402: 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 has lower values than Indiana for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
ZIP 46402 at a glance: 1.6× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46402: 4.8 in 2016–19, 7.8 in 2020–24.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 6,927 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,451 people injured and 108 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 am than at any other hour (9.0%).
12.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (23). It is followed by I-94 (5), I-90 (4) and US-12 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
94 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Their busiest month is August, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.1, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46402 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- With 12.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 23 |
| I-94 | 5 |
| I-90 | 4 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-41N | 2 |
| Brainard Ave | 1 |
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 46402 at a glance
| Population | 5,836 |
| Density | 267 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $33,529 |
| Median home value | $86,509 |
| Home ownership | 43% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 352 to 647. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46402
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46402?
Lake County has had 6,927 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,451 people and killing 108.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46402?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46402: 23.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 46402?
The worst month is January: 9.8% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46402?
Garbage trucks were involved in 94 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46402 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 46402?
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.