ZIP 46615 (South Bend, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46615: 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. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
St. Joseph County at a glance: 22.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in St. Joseph County. They injured 658 people and killed 44.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 15.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.8% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 22.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 46615 is I-80, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-2 (4), US-20 (3) and SR-51 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 44 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Their busiest month is June, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46615 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Joseph County.
- 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.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; adjust start times where you can.
- With 22.3% 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 8 |
| SR-2 | 4 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 1 |
| Day Rd | 1 |
| Mayflower | 1 |
| Mu-Auten Rd | 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 46615 at a glance
| Population | 14,190 |
| Density | 1,660 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $62,964 |
| Median home value | $138,722 |
| Home ownership | 63% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46615
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46615?
St. Joseph County has had 1,696 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 658 people and killing 44.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46615?
I-80 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46615 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 46615?
The worst month is January: 15.3% of truck crashes in St. Joseph County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46615?
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 46615 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 46615?
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.