ZIP 46545 (Mishawaka, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46545: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County compares with Indiana
St. Joseph County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
St. Joseph County sits below Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for St. Joseph County: 22.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Overview
St. Joseph County has recorded 1,696 truck crashes since 2015, with 658 people injured and 44 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 15.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46545 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-REDFIELD St (2), SR-51 (2) and US-20 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (11%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46545 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 June schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.6% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- With 22.3% 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
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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 6 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| 3rd St | 1 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-26 | 1 |
| CR-7 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 318 |
| US-20 | 122 |
| SR-2 | 75 |
| US-31 | 41 |
| SR-23 | 37 |
| SR-331 | 31 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 29 |
| SR-933 | 26 |
ZIP 46545 at a glance
| Population | 26,606 |
| Density | 561 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,865 |
| Median home value | $172,438 |
| Home ownership | 53% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 58 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 124 | +114% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 139 | +12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | -8% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 58 to 127. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46545
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46545?
St. Joseph County has had 1,696 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 658 people and killing 44.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46545?
I-80 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46545 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46545?
The worst month is January: 15.3% of truck crashes in St. Joseph County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46545?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in St. Joseph County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46545 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in St. Joseph County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 46545?
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.