Storm Lake, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Storm Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Storm Lake 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 |
Compared with Iowa, Buena Vista County is lower 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 Storm Lake: US-71 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Storm Lake since 2015.
Overview
Buena Vista County has recorded 170 truck crashes since 2015, with 69 people injured and 10 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 26 days in fully reported years.
Storm Lake had 23 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Buena Vista County numbers.
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
January has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (3.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.7% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (11.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-71 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by CR-D15 190Th St (1), SR-007 (1) and SR-3 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Storm Lake fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-71; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.0% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.4% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 |
| CR-D15 190Th St | 1 |
| SR-007 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| 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 |
Storm Lake at a glance
| Population | 11,627 |
| Land area | 5.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,142 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50588) | $70,906 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50588) | $187,108 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Storm Lake
How common are truck crashes in Storm Lake?
Buena Vista County has had 170 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 69 people and killing 10.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Storm Lake?
US-71 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Storm Lake since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Storm Lake?
January has the most truck crashes in Buena Vista County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Storm Lake?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Buena Vista County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Storm Lake compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Buena Vista County has 68.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Storm Lake?
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.