ZIP 46410 (Merrillville, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46410: 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.
What stands out in ZIP 46410: I-80 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46410: 15 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 2,451 people were injured and 108 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
November through March accounts for 42.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (15). Next come US-30 (5), US-12 (4) and Grant St (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
94 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (11%).
They recorded 1.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46410 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 | 15 |
| US-30 | 5 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| I-65 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| 101st | 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 46410 at a glance
| Population | 39,243 |
| Density | 504 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,127 |
| Median home value | $209,106 |
| Home ownership | 66% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 352 a year in the 1990s and 647 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46410
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46410?
Since 2015, 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (2,451 injured, 108 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46410?
I-80 had 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46410 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46410?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 9.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 46410?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 94 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46410 compare with Indiana?
Lake County records 117.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46410?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.