The portion of Interstate 65 that runs through Indiana begins from Jeffersonville in the south and ends in Gary in the north, passing through Indianapolis at the center of the state. In the first three months of 2026, I-65 in Indiana saw a total of 47 semi-truck wrecks. This is a slight decrease in the number of wrecks during this period of 2025, which totaled 50 semi accidents.
With truck accident numbers on the rise, it’s important to collect and analyze crash data from previous years and compare with current data to better understand which routes are becoming more or less dangerous for drivers. Let’s take a look at how the trends on I-65 changed or remained the same from the winter months of 2025 and 2026.
2025 Trends vs. 2026 Trends
There was a slight decrease in semi crashes and injuries on I-65 for the first three months of 2026 in comparison to 2025. January to March of 2026 totaled 47 wrecks, 1 fatality, and 57 injuries. For the same period in 2025, there were 50 wrecks, 1 fatality, and 78 injuries. While the number of wrecks saw a slight decrease and fatality numbers were unchanged, there was a significant drop in injuries, totaling 21 fewer injuries. This indicates that while wreck statistics were similar, the crashes that occurred may have been less severe. The quantity of accidents where the reporting police officer pre-emptively determined the semi driver to be at fault was 30 wrecks for 2025 and 27 for 2026.
Of the winter months in 2025, January had the most accidents with a total of 24. March was second with 17 wrecks, and February had 9. Alternatively, March had the most accidents in 2026 with 19 crashes. This was followed by January with 15 wrecks and February with 13 wrecks. The changes in the number of accidents, particularly in January, could be attributed to different weather conditions each year.
January 2025 had two snowstorms. The first took place on January 5th and 6th, which resulted in less than an inch of snow in the towns along I-65 from Gary to just south of Lafayette, but towns from Indianapolis to Jeffersonville accumulated over 8 inches of snow. The second snowstorm on January 10th led to snowfall of anywhere between 2 inches to 5.5 inches from Gary to Jeffersonville along the interstate. Meanwhile, January 2026 saw some Lake Effect snow in Northern Indiana on January 14th, causing some areas of I-65 to get up to 2.3 inches of snow. A snowstorm that occurred from January 24th to 26th led to snowfall along I-65 ranging from 4.8 inches to 14 inches of snow, which rolled over into early February. Despite higher snowfall measurements for 2026, January of 2025 may have had more accidents because some drivers overestimate how well they can drive on snow when there is less snow on the ground, while attempting to drive or simply leave your home in over a foot of snow is much more difficult.
The day of the week with the most accidents for the winter months of 2025 was Thursday with 12 semi crashes, and the time of day with the most accidents was 11 a.m., totaling at 7 wrecks. For 2026, the most dangerous day of the week was tied between Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday with 10 wrecks on each day, and 9 a.m. as the time of the day the most accidents occurred at, also with 7 crashes.
There were no construction related crashes in the first three months of 2025, but 2026 had 4 accidents in construction zones in Boone, Marion, and Scott counties. Overnight closures took place on I-65 in Boone County in early March 2026 to begin shifting traffic patterns for upcoming construction. Marion County has had several construction projects on I-65 since spring of 2025 and will continue into 2027. Large construction efforts in Scott County began in late summer 2025 and will continue into 2028, with several lane closures on multiple bridges in late February most recently.
The county with the most accidents for this period of 2025 was Lake County with 10 accidents, likely due to the county’s close proximity to the Chicago Metropolitan area. For 2026, Lake County was still among the counties with the most wrecks, but it was tied with Marion and Clark counties with 7 crashes each. All three counties are either home to or in close proximity to major metropolitan areas; Marion County is home to Indianapolis and Clark County is directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.
Lastly, the top three primary causes of semi-truck accidents in early 2025 compared to early 2026 actually remained the same, but the second and third spots swapped places. The top primary cause for both years was “unsafe lane movement” with 19 wrecks in 2025 and 16 in 2026. The second place spot for 2025 was “speed too fast for weather conditions” with 8 accidents, and third place was “following too closely” with 6 wrecks. 2026’s second place was “following too closely” totaling at 12 accidents and third place was “speed too fast for weather conditions” with 5. Both unsafe lane movement and following too closely are typically caused by distracted or fatigued driving after further investigation and common among semi-truck accidents, but speed too fast for weather conditions can likely be attributed to the considerable snowfall in the beginning of both years.
Conclusion
Based on the trends seen in truck accidents for the first three months of 2025 and 2026, it appears that there were no drastic changes in the number of wrecks or their causes. Most differences can be attributed to changes in road conditions, particularly in relation to constructions zones and adverse weather conditions.
Ultimately, those driving on I-65 in the early months of the year should pay close attention to weather forecasts before making travel plans and amply prepare their vehicles for heavy snow potential. Drivers of both passenger vehicles and semi-trucks should be aware of their ability to drive in adverse weather conditions and know when to stop driving on I-65 when weather becomes worse. Furthermore, drivers must be aware of any active construction zones they may travel through, as the data shows that work zones increase the odds of a semi crash. Lastly, be cautious when driving through or near major metropolitan areas; these areas see more freight traffic on a regular basis due to a larger volume of companies that may have warehouses, factories, or headquarters in these areas.
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.
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