ZIP 46553 (New Paris, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46553: 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 |
Elkhart County has lower values than Indiana for after dark. It runs above Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 46553: US-6 deadliest road: 6 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46553 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Elkhart County. They injured 815 people and killed 63.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
US-6 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46553 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-40 (3), CR-17 (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.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (17% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46553 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-6; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 28.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- 14.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Elkhart County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 6 |
| CR-40 | 3 |
| CR-17 | 2 |
| SR-119 | 2 |
| SR-15 | 2 |
| US-33 | 2 |
| Us- 6 | 2 |
| CR-38 | 1 |
| CR-42 | 1 |
| CR-9 | 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 46553 at a glance
| Population | 3,828 |
| Density | 47 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $89,417 |
| Median home value | $275,074 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.5 a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46553
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46553?
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Elkhart County (815 injured, 63 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46553?
US-6 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46553 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46553?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Elkhart County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46553?
Garbage trucks were involved in 59 reported crashes in Elkhart County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 46553 compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Elkhart County has 81.7 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46553?
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.