Fatal Crash Data

US 40 in Indiana: fatal crashes

From 2015 to 2024, 67 fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana killed 74 people, the 12th most of 431 numbered roads in Indiana. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.

A US route running through 8 counties of Indiana. All fatal crashes in Indiana.

Deaths on US 40 in Indiana by year

10201620182020202220242015: 142024: 13
YearFatal crashesDeaths
20241213
202366
202288
202199
202022
201922
20181012
201723
201655
20151114

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Where on US 40 in Indiana: the counties with the most fatal crashes

Marion County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths. Marion, Hendricks and Hancock counties together held 75% of fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 91%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.

One fatal crash, 2015 to 2024Darker where crashes cluster
County20242015 to 2024Deaths
1Marion County52832
2Hendricks County11214
3Hancock County21010
4Putnam County167
5Wayne County055

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

When fatal crashes happen on US 40 in Indiana

66 fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is July.

Share of fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana by weekday and time of day, 2015 to 2024, in percent
Midnight to 44 to 8 am8 to noonNoon to 44 to 8 pm8 to midnight
Sun1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash
Mon0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes
Tue3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash
Wed1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes
Thu3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash
Fri1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes
Sat3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash

By hour

By month

  • Jan7.5%
  • Feb3.0%
  • Mar7.5%
  • Apr9.0%
  • May11.9%
  • Jun4.5%
  • Jul14.9%
  • Aug9.0%
  • Sep9.0%
  • Oct10.4%
  • Nov3.0%
  • Dec10.4%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

What fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana first hit

The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a pedestrian in 19%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 19%, a rollover in 6.0%.

First harmful eventFatal crashesShare
Collision with another vehicle3248%
Pedestrian1319%
Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch)1319%
Rollover46.0%
Cyclist34.5%
Other23.0%
Parked vehicle00.0%
Not reported00.0%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

How fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana compare with the state

The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 37% of fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana were on rural roads, against 58% across Indiana. Also above the Indiana share: pedestrians. Below it: speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Indiana. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 67 crashes.

US 40Indiana
On rural stretches37%58%below the Indiana share
At or near an intersection30%27%about the same as the Indiana share
In the dark, road unlit24%31%about the same as the Indiana share
A drinking driver16%20%about the same as the Indiana share
Speeding15%26%below the Indiana share
A distracted driver (as recorded)6.0%5.7%about the same as the Indiana share
Occupants killed unbelted45%46%about the same as the Indiana share
Hit-and-run9.0%5.3%about the same as the Indiana share
A motorcycle involved13%16%about the same as the Indiana share
Pedestrians among the dead20%11%above the Indiana share

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Questions about fatal crashes on US 40 in Indiana

How many fatal crashes have there been on US 40 in Indiana?
67 fatal crashes killed 74 people on US 40 in Indiana from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Where on US 40 in Indiana do the most fatal crashes happen?
Marion County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths. Hendricks County was second with 12.

Other roads in Indiana with a page

All fatal crashes in Indiana, with every road ranked.

Where the US 40 numbers come from

Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 40 in Indiana (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US- 40", "US- 40 / WASHINGTON ST", "US-40", "US-40 E"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.