Newell, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Newell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Newell and Buena Vista County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Buena Vista County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 170 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buena Vista County compares with Iowa
Buena Vista County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buena Vista County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buena Vista County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Buena Vista County sits below Iowa on in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Buena Vista County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 12.9% of the year's total.
Overview
Buena Vista County has recorded 170 truck crashes since 2015, with 69 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 26 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Newell since 2015, this page uses Buena Vista County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
68% of truck crash reports in Buena Vista County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 3.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.7% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 11.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Newell since 2015 were spread across roads: US-71 (2) and US-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Newell fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Buena Vista County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.0% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- With 20.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Buena Vista County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 2 |
| US-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buena Vista County) |
|---|---|
| Ia 7 | 4 |
| US-71 | 3 |
| SR-71 | 3 |
| 100Th Ave And C013/440Th St An | 3 |
| 20Th Ave And Ia 3 | 2 |
| C025/480Th St And Us 71/130Th | 2 |
| Highway 3, West Of M-54 | 2 |
| Hwy 71 & C-49 | 2 |
Newell at a glance
| Population | 850 |
| Land area | 1.3 sq mi |
| Density | 673 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50568) | $75,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50568) | $138,085 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buena Vista County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +81% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 13 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 15 | +13% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Newell
How common are truck crashes in Newell?
Buena Vista County has had 170 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 69 people and killing 10.
When do most truck crashes happen in Newell?
Truck crashes in Buena Vista County peak in January, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Newell?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Buena Vista County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does Newell compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 68.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Buena Vista County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Newell?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.