ZIP 46573 (Wakarusa, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46573: 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
ZIP 46573 at a glance: US-6 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46573: 3 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.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
14.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 46573 is US-6, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-40 (2), SR-119 (2) and Us- 6 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 59 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46573 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-6 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 | 3 |
| CR-40 | 2 |
| SR-119 | 2 |
| Us- 6 | 2 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-17 | 1 |
| CR-26 | 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 46573 at a glance
| Population | 3,936 |
| Density | 44 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $85,750 |
| Median home value | $241,514 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 89 to 155. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 46573
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46573?
Elkhart County has had 1,956 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 815 people and killing 63.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46573?
US-6 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46573 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46573?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Elkhart County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46573?
Garbage trucks were involved in 59 reported crashes in Elkhart County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 46573 compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Elkhart County records 81.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46573?
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.