Left turn

10 Deadliest Stretches of Road in Indiana

If you look at the big picture, the accident rate in Indiana is not terrible. We are not in the top 10 most dangerous states for driving; in fact, we are not even in the top 20 states. As of 2022, Indiana’s drivers were ranked as being the 30th most dangerous out of drivers in all 50 states. The Hoosier State averages 1.05 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles driven. Compare that to 1.83 for South Carolina, or 1.63 for Mississippi (the 2 most dangerous states to drive). Of course, when you stop looking at the big picture and focus solely on our state and the people who live and drive here, you realize that even one death is too many and that all dangers are consequential. 

A recent Indiana fatal accident study looked at the details of 2,342 fatal accidents that took place on Indiana’s roads between 2018 and 2020 to determine which stretches of road are most deadly.

The extensive study focused on 1,169 roads out of Indiana’s 202,707 miles of road to create its list of the top ten deadliest stretches of road in Indiana:

  1. 38th Street from North Hawthorne Lane to Cornelius Avenue in Indianapolis

10 fatal accidents occurred on this very deadly stretch of road between 2018 and 2020.

  1. I-80 West from Exit 9 to Exit 3 Hammond/Gary

There were 8 fatalities on this 4.4-mile stretch of road between 2018 and 2020.

  1. Madison Avenue from East Murray Street to Lisa Walk Drive Homecroft/Indianapolis

7 people died in 6 fatal accidents on this 4.7-mile stretch of road between 2018 and 2020.

  1. Shadeland Avenue from East 21st Street to Mill View Drive Lawrence/Indianapolis

This stretch of road is only 2.2 miles long, and yet there were 6 fatal accidents here between 2018 and 2020.

  1. East 21st Street from North Audubon Road to Snead Circle Indianapolis

6 people died in 5 fatal accidents here between 2018 and 2020.

  1. I-65 from Exit 9 to Exit 5 Clarksville/Jeffersonville/Sellersburg

There were 5 fatalities in this 4.5-mile stretch of road between 2018 and 2020. That works out to 1.1 crashes per mile.

  1. East 30th Street from Bavarian Drive to North Bolton Avenue 

This 4.3-mile stretch of road in Indianapolis claimed the lives of 5 people between 2018 and 2020.

  1. IN-130 from Tower Road to West 600 North 

There were 6 fatalities in 4 fatal accidents in this 4.8-mile stretch of road in Valparaiso between 2018 and 2020.

  1. I-69 North from Exit 311B to Exit 316 Fort Wayne

In Fort Wayne, 5 people died in 4 fatal accidents on this 4.5-mile stretch of road between 2018 and 2020.

  1. West Dunes Highway from Furnessville Road to North Mineral Springs Road Chesterton/Porter

In only a 2.9-mile stretch of road, 5 people died in 4 fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020.

Unsurprisingly, most of Indiana’s deadly accidents occurred in Marion County. The counties with the most fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020 were:

County Fatalities

  1. Marion 339
  2. Lake 141
  3. Allen 97
  4. St. Joseph 73
  5. Elkhart 72
  6. Delaware 50
  7. Madison 49
  8. Hamilton 48
  9. La Porte 43
  10. Vanderburg 41

Contributing factors:

Although each of the deadly stretches of roads poses its own risks, there are certain contributing factors evident in both national and Indiana car crash statistics. Speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving all pose deadly risks. For example:

  • In 2019, 13.3% of all Indiana traffic fatalities were attributed to alcohol-impaired driving.
  • In 2019, 25% of all Indiana fatal collisions were speed-related. 
  • In 2019, 74 fatalities in Indiana were attributed to distracted driving. 

If you have been injured or if a family member has lost his or her life on one of Indiana’s deadliest stretches of roads, you will need an experienced car accident lawyer to help you navigate the situation. Whether the problem was related to insufficient road maintenance, bad signage, or another driver’s negligence, you need someone on your side to gather the necessary evidence and to advocate for you with insurance companies. 

At Crossen Law Firm, we have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively negotiate with insurance companies to obtain maximum compensation.

Get started on your case today by scheduling a free consultation about your situation.

Call (317) 401-8626 or contact us online.

Categories