Truck Accidents on US 36: Trends

Starting in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and ending in Uhrichsville, Ohio, US 36 is a United States Numbered Highway that stretches from east to west and vice versa. The roadway travels through the center of Indiana and connects several major cities to more rural towns in the state, which also provides a direct route to Indianapolis from both sides of the state.

Similar to many highways and interstates in Indiana, US 36 contributes to the “Crossroads of America” by allowing freight traffic to travel between states and major metropolitan areas. This higher traffic volume includes semi-trucks and other commercial motor vehicles, ultimately leading to a greater risk of truck accidents, particularly when US 36 meets major interstates. From January 2025 to December 2025, preliminary data from Semicrashmap.com reports a total of eight accidents involving semi-trucks on US 36.

Here is a deep dive into the semi accident trends on US 36 in 2025 and what contributed to these wrecks.

About US 36

US 36 begins in Colorado where it meets with US 34 and finishes when it reaches US 250 in Ohio. This 1,414-mile length of highway passes through the middle of Indiana, including a portion that joins I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis.

The highway enters Indiana near Dane in Vermillion County to the west before passing through Motezuma, Rockville, Bainbridge, Danville and Avon. Once the road approaches Indianapolis, it becomes a part of the southern portion of I-465. It then exits onto Pendleton Pike east of the city and then travels northeast.

On the east side of the state, US 36 connects Lawrence, McCordsville and Fortville before going around the east side of Pendleton and turning in that same direction. From there, the highway maintains a mostly straight line and proceeds through Sulphur Springs, Losantville, Modoc and Lynn before continuing into Ohio.

Semi Accident Trends on US 36

Based on the initial data from Semicrashmap.com, US 36 saw a total of eight truck wrecks in 2025. Of those accidents, the semi-truck driven was preliminarily determined to be at fault by the investigating police officer for three of them. There were zero fatalities and 11 injuries reported.

Each accident had different factors at play, but the most common primary factor was following too closely, which accounted for three of the accidents. However, oftentimes when that is listed as a primary factor in police reports, the real cause of the accident was a distracted or fatigued driver who did not realize they were too close until it was too late. The other primary factors listed in these accidents include brake failure/defective brakes, failure to maintain lane, improper passing and failure to yield right-of-way, which was the second most common and accounted for two wrecks.

Furthermore, one of the major commonalities amongst the wrecks on US 36 was rear-ending as a recurring type of collision. This was cited in six of the map markers, which correlates with several of the primary factors often resulting in rear-endings, and some listed that glare and speed led to those collisions. Some reports also listed wet, dark/unlit, and clear road conditions as other factors, showing that wrecks can happen in any weather. Other factors that stood out amongst these accidents include left turns and multiple vehicles.

Semi-truck accidents can also occur more frequently at T-intersections and 4-way intersections. In fact, two failure to yield right-of-way wrecks happened at the intersection of US 36 and SR 1. Additionally, several of the accidents on US 36 were close to the I-465 conjunction, which indicates that speed and lane changes entering and exiting the interstate may have contributed as well.

Majority of the truck accidents on US 36 occurred in March and August, with two accidents in each respective month. Tuesday and Thursday were the most dangerous, with three accidents on each day. This data correlates with national data stating that Tuesday and Thursday are the days of the week with the most wrecks. The time of day with the most accidents was 3 p.m. EST, with a total of three crashes.

One thing that makes US 36 particularly dangerous in Avon and Hendricks County is the volume of traffic—especially coming off of I-465, number of lanes and stop-and-go traffic. Business drives connected to the highway also create a higher accident risk due to traffic slowing to pull into businesses or vehicles pulling out of businesses and back onto the highway.

Ultimately, this data displays that drivers on US 36 should be especially cautious in areas of the highway that intersect with other roads or connect directly to I-465. These sections of roadway require drivers to remain attentive and watch closely for oncoming traffic, keep an eye out for changes in speed and number of lanes, as well as staying cautious of the driving patterns of those around you. Professional drivers that are entering and exiting I-465 should be wary of other truck drivers, as these areas have higher concentrations of freight traffic.

Semi Crash Map: A Tool for Identifying Dangerous Trucking Trends

The Semi Crash Map was developed in 2025 by Nationally Recognized Truck Accident Attorney David W. Craig with the help of employees at Craig, Kelley & Faultless. This educational and informative tool provides the public with information about dangerous trucking trends as they happen. It is aimed at those who wish to use the map’s data to educate themselves about local semi-truck wrecks.

David’s goal is to create public access to truck accident data and trends, which equips users with knowledge and information that can make everyone more aware of the potential dangers that come with sharing the road with semi-trucks. Anyone can access and navigate the map for free.

Map markers are updated daily, utilizing a patent pending process that pulls from news sources, police reports and other available data to track truck wrecks when they occur. Users can click on any map marker to read more about a specific wreck or use the entire map to look at broader trends.

Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired. Additionally, two of the firm’s litigation paralegals are board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. As David has said, “We don’t just handle truck accident cases. We specialize in these cases.”

Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.

Reach out for a free case consultation today at (888) 253-5198 or online.

David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.