Interstate 70 in Indiana is home to a high volume of semi crashes, with a total of 90 accidents involving semi-trucks in 2025 on the stretch of the interstate between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, resulting in 117 injuries and two fatalities, according to preliminary data from Semicrashmap.com. Of those 90 accidents, police initially found the semi driver to be at fault for 53 of them. This would mean that over 58% of these semi wrecks were the fault of the semi driver. This percentage is higher than what has been published nationally. We will have to watch and see if this trend continues into 2026.
This non-stop route between states and metropolitan areas can lead to heavy freight traffic across Indiana, creating major potential for dangerous semi and heavy truck wrecks in this corridor. Previously, we did a deep dive into the accident trends on I-70 from Indianapolis to Richmond. Here, we will focus on the portion of I-70 from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, which includes Vigo, Clay, Putnam, Morgan, Hendricks and Marion counties.
Below is an in-depth analysis of the semi accident trends for I-70 from Terre Haute to Indianapolis in 2025.
Semi Accident Trends on I-70: Terre Haute to Indianapolis
Based on initial data from Semicrashmap.com, I-70 was home to 90 semi-truck accidents in 2025 between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, in addition to 117 injuries and two fatalities. For 53 of those accidents, police initially found the semi driver to be at fault.
For this portion of I-70, data showed that November was the most dangerous with 14 total accidents. April, September and October are tied for second most dangerous with 11 crashes in each month. Of the seven days of the week, Wednesday saw the most wrecks, totaling 18 wrecks on Wednesdays throughout 2025. Data also showed that the most dangerous time to drive on this stretch of I-70 was 3 p.m. with 12 accidents occurring during that hour. Alternatively, there were zero accidents at 4 a.m. and 2 p.m.
There were a variety of primary factors for the accidents on this section of I-70 in 2025, all of which were preliminarily determined by the reporting police officers. Only four of those wrecks occurred in a construction zone, meaning that the potential causes were unlikely to be a result of changing traffic patterns and speeds in work zones. Overall, the two most common primary factors were unsafe lane movement, which accounted for 38 accidents, and following too closely, which was listed for 22 wrecks. For these two causes, however, it is likely that the accidents were actually a result of distracted or fatigued driving because they typically lead to unsafe lane movement and following too closely. The remaining accidents in this corridor were attributed to the following factors:
- Driver asleep or fatigued
- Driver distracted
- Engine failure or defective
- Failure to maintain lane
- Improper turning
- Insecure or leaky load
- Other (driver) – explained in police report
- Other (vehicle) – explained in police report
- Overcorrecting or oversteering
- Speed too fast for weather conditions
- Tire failure or defective
- Unsafe backing
- Unsafe speed
- View obstructed.
When examining such a large stretch of interstate, it is important to keep in mind and account for the trends in each county the interstate passes through because of the different types of roads and settlement patterns. Areas that are more rural will have fewer interchanges and less freight traffic entering and exiting the interstate to deliver and load cargo. Counties that are more urban will have the opposite, leading to more potential for dangerous crashes.
Clay County saw the least number of accidents, with only one crash for I-70 in that area. It resulted in one injury, and the police determined the semi driver to be at fault due to fatigue. Morgan County was also home to minimal semi crashes, with a total of three wrecks that caused five injuries. For all three wrecks, the police report stated the semi drivers were at fault. Putnam and Hendricks Counties both had nine total wrecks, respectively. In Putnam County, the reporting officer found the semi driver at fault for six of the accidents, and three wrecks were cited as a result of unsafe lane movement. Hendricks County also cited the semi drivers as responsible for six wrecks.
When looking at Hendricks County specifically, motorists should be aware that the city of Plainfield in the county is home to many logistics and warehousing companies and is close in proximity to the Indianapolis Metropolitan area, which can result in increased freight traffic. Mondays at 9 a.m. were ultimately the most dangerous time of day for drivers, potentially because it is the beginning of the business week. Vigo County came in second for the most wrecks on this portion of I-70, totaling 14 wrecks. The location of Terre Haute in the county is a contributor to the number of semi accidents because it is an urban metropolitan area. The city is also home to an airport, which can lead to high levels of freight traffic. Marion County is similar in that regard because I-70 serves as the Indianapolis International Airport’s main access point for vehicles. Marion County accounted for 54 of the wrecks on I-70, and police claimed the semi was at fault for 27 of those accidents, and 30 wrecks were attributed to unsafe lane movement. This county is home to several different interstates and interchanges, creating complex roadways for all motorists.
About the Western Stretch of I-70
Interstate 70 passes through central Indiana, providing travelers of the roadway are met with a straight route to Indianapolis. Once I-70 passes into Indiana, from Illinois the western stretch begins slightly west of Terre Haute and over the Wabash River. The portion of that does coincide with Terre Haute crosses through the south side of the city, including an interchange with US 41/US 50. As the roadway travels east, I-70 passes the Terre Haute Regional Airport and leaves US 40 behind before continuing east-northeast through rural areas to reach Indianapolis. This portion of the interstate lacks interchanges with significant towns until reaching the Indianapolis metropolitan area. However, it does closely pass Greencastle.
When I-70 enters the Indianapolis area, the roadway goes through southern Plainfield in Hendricks County before entering Marion County as it travels slightly south of the Indianapolis International Airport, which uses the freeway as the passenger terminal’s main access point for vehicles. Located at the far southeast corner of the airport is an interchange with the I-465 circumferential at exit 73, but drivers traveling to the western or southern portions of I-465 from I-70 eastbound are forced to exit using a parallel collector-distributor roadway at exit 69, which is about four miles prior to the actual crossing of the beltway.
As the interstate moves beyond the airport, I-70 turns northeast, then east, before crossing over the White River and continues just south of Lucas Oil Stadium, Downtown Indianapolis and Eli Lilly and Company as it reaches I-65.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the data provided by Semicrashmap.com shows that there is high potential for dangerous truck accidents on I-70 from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, particularly in the areas closest to those respective cities. Drivers should be conscientious of the semi-trucks around them as they enter or exit Indiana near Terre Haute and as they approach Indianapolis from the west because of increased freight traffic in these regions, particularly around both airports. All drivers should be wary of abnormal driving behaviors but watch specifically for unsafe lane movement and vehicles following too closely.
Nationally Recognized and Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney David W. Craig said that these statistics don’t surprise him. “We are currently representing victims of a semi accident on I-70 between Indianapolis and Terre Haute. Over the years, I don’t remember a time in which we weren’t representing someone that was hurt or killed by a commercial motor vehicle on this stretch on the interstate.”
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 National Board of Trial Advocacy (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.
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin