Running east to west, and west to east, across Southern Indiana, US 50 is a heavily traveled corridor that connects many rural and urban towns in the area, such as Vincennes, Bedford and Versailles. But did you know that this highway stretch from Illinois to Ohio serves as a major conduit for freight traffic between states?
The roadway’s reach between states results in higher traffic volume of semi-trucks and other commercial motor vehicles, which can then lead to increased risk of truck accidents. From January 2025 through December 2025, preliminary data shows there was a total of about 13 crashes that involved semi-trucks, according to Semicrashmap.com.
Let’s take a closer look at the semi accident trends on US 50 over the past year and why this roadway has become a risky area for these types of accidents.
About US 50
US 50 is a 171.38-mile-long stretch of highway that is part of the National Highway System, which is a network of highways that are identified as some of the most important for the nation’s economy, mobility and defense.
This major corridor includes sections of rural two-lane highway, urbanized four-lane undivided highway and one-way streets. It passes through urban areas, woodlands and farmlands, as well as Hoosier National Forst and Versailles State Park. The highway also runs concurrently with US 231, SR 37, SR 450, US 421 and SR 129, along with an interchange for I-69, making it a channel for commercial traffic to connect to other major roadways.
The length of US 50 sees a variety of traffic levels depending on the particular stretch of the highway. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) monitors and tracks traffic volumes for each state highway using a metric of average annual daily traffic (AADT). This is a calculation of the traffic levels along any segment of highway for any average day of the year.
In 2010, INDOT found that the lowest traffic levels were a total of 2,690 passenger vehicles and 480 commercial vehicles using the highway daily on the stretch of US 50 between SR 446 and the Lawrence-Jackson County line. The peak for traffic on US 50 was 31,720 passenger vehicles and 1,920 commercial vehicles in the section between SR 148 and SR 48. These traffic numbers show that US 50 typically sees a significant amount of commercial traffic each day.
2025 Truck Crash Trends on US 50
According to preliminary data from Semicrashmap.com, there were 13 total semi-truck wrecks in 2025 on US 50. The semi-truck driver was found to be at fault for nine of those accidents. There were several different factors for each wreck, with some more common than others and often occurring in tandem.
Common types of roadways where these collisions occurred include T-intersections, construction zones with lane closures and 4-way intersections. Primary factors found among the wrecks on US 50 consisted of brake failure, disregarded signals, failure to maintain the lane, failure to yield right-of-way, following too closely, improper lane usage, unsafe speed and obstructed view. The most common factor was the failure to yield right-of-way, which was reported for 5 of the 13 wrecks.
Types of collisions reported were rear-endings, head-on collisions, sideswipes and hit-and-runs. Multiple accidents were T-intersection collisions where a rear-ending occurred, or crossing of the center line that resulted in head-on collisions.
July had the most accidents of any other month, with a total of three wrecks on US 50 during that period. The most common day for accidents was Tuesday, with a reported four crashes on that day of the week. 6 p.m. EST was the most dangerous time of day; three accidents occurred during that hour. Road conditions described in police reports consisted of clear conditions, rainy conditions and dark, unlit highway.
When examining this data, it is apparent that the best way to prevent accidents along this highway is to remain attentive while driving. This means avoiding distractions and adhering to the speed limit and rules of the road. Professional drivers typically spend long hours behind the wheel, which can make it difficult to maintain vigilance the longer they are on the road. Distracted or fatigued driving is often a primary reason for wrecks that are cited as following too closely, crossing of the center line, failure to maintain lane and more. For those that are driving passenger vehicles, keeping a safe distance from semi-trucks and other heavy trucks can keep you out of harm’s way in the event of an emergency.
One of the worst trucking companies that Craig, Kelley & Faultless has ever sued was involved in an accident on US 50 just outside of North Vernon, Indiana. The wreck unfortunately resulted in two deaths and one injury that should never have happened. The trucking company was a “chameleon carrier”. It should not have been issued or given operating authority. It was a dangerous trucking company that was about to shut down when it closed and then immediately reopened using a different name and Department of Transportation (DOT) number. However, it was the same dangerous equipment and one of the same careless drivers. While the rest of the world did not realize this, it was given the load that it was hauling on the day of the collision based on what looked like a clean safety record.
“The semi tractor’s brakes did not work properly, and the truck should have been out of service. Instead, the owner of the company was driving the truck west on US 50. Our client was stopped waiting to turn left across traffic. The brakes failed and the semi rear-ended the client’s vehicle. Our client was let down by a system that did not stop chameleon carriers from existing,” said attorney David W. Craig. Another problem is that bad truckers driving bad equipment will use US 50 to try and avoid weigh stations.
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.
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