ZIP 46574 (Walkerton, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46574: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in LaPorte 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
3.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How LaPorte County compares with Indiana
LaPorte County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where LaPorte County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | LaPorte County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 133.8 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 27% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.2% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 32.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
LaPorte County sits below Indiana on garbage-truck share. It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for LaPorte County: 21.2% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
LaPorte County has recorded 1,765 truck crashes since 2015, with 639 people injured and 55 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
21.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
US-6 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 46574 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-23 (2), US-30 (2) and US-6W (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (24%).
They recorded 3.6 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46574 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-6, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 21.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 LaPorte County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 3 |
| SR-23 | 2 |
| US-30 | 2 |
| US-6W | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (LaPorte County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 338 |
| I-80 | 283 |
| US-20 | 259 |
| US-30 | 139 |
| US-421 | 93 |
| SR-2 | 57 |
| US-35 | 49 |
| SR-39 | 39 |
ZIP 46574 at a glance
| Population | 7,426 |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $76,181 |
| Median home value | $195,277 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in LaPorte 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 | 68 | — | 6.3 |
| 2000s | 128 | +88% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 146 | +14% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 140 | -4% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 68 a year in the 1990s and 140 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 5.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46574
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46574?
Since 2015, 1,765 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in LaPorte County (639 injured, 55 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46574?
US-6 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46574 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46574?
Truck crashes in LaPorte County peak in January, with 13.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 46574?
Since 2015, LaPorte County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 46574 compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
LaPorte County records 133.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46574?
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.