ZIP 46517 (Elkhart, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46517: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Elkhart 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 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Elkhart County compares with Indiana
Elkhart County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Elkhart County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Elkhart County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.7 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.2% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.2% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Indiana, Elkhart County is lower on after dark. It runs above Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 46517: I-80 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46517: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Elkhart County. They injured 815 people and killed 63.
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 April at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 45.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46517 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-17 (4), CR-40 (2) and SR-119 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 59 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Their busiest month is November, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46517 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.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 28.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Elkhart County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 5 |
| CR-17 | 4 |
| CR-40 | 2 |
| SR-119 | 2 |
| 3rd St | 1 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-18 | 1 |
| CR-26 | 1 |
| CR-42 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Elkhart County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 245 |
| US-20 | 207 |
| US-33 | 110 |
| US-6 | 77 |
| SR-15 | 71 |
| SR-13 | 59 |
| SR-19 | 47 |
| SR-120 | 47 |
ZIP 46517 at a glance
| Population | 25,433 |
| Density | 266 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,772 |
| Median home value | $176,759 |
| Home ownership | 63% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Elkhart 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 | 89 | — | 5.4 |
| 2000s | 148 | +67% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 160 | +8% | 4.2 |
| 2020s | 155 | -3% | 5.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 89 a year in the 1990s and 155 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46517
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46517?
Elkhart County has had 1,956 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 815 people and killing 63.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46517?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46517 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 46517?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Elkhart County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46517?
Since 2015, Elkhart County has reported 59 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 46517 compared with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 81.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Elkhart County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46517?
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.