Leon, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Leon: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Leon and Decatur County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Decatur County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Decatur County compares with Iowa
Decatur County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Decatur County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Decatur County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 163.9 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 57.2% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 40.6% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.8× the state |
Decatur County sits below Iowa on morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Decatur County: 8.0 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Iowa.
Overview
Decatur County has recorded 143 truck crashes since 2015, with 84 people injured and 11 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 29 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Leon since 2015, this page uses Decatur County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
85% of truck crash reports in Decatur County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (16.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (3.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 57.2% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (7.7%).
Road surface: 17.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-35 leads within 10 miles of Leon with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-2 (1) and US-69 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Leon fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-35; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Decatur County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 3 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| US-69 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Decatur County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 11 |
| I35Sb At The 24Mm | 3 |
| I 35 Sb @ 19.30 Mile Marker | 3 |
| Hwy 2 W.B. @ I-35 N.B. On/Off | 2 |
| I 35 Sb @ 19.50 Mile Marker | 2 |
| I35Nb At The 21Mm | 2 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 2 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 24Mm | 2 |
Leon at a glance
| Population | 1,779 |
| Land area | 3.1 sq mi |
| Density | 568 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50144) | $63,333 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50144) | $147,144 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Decatur 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 | 4 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 6 | +83% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 9 | +45% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 14 | +45% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Leon
How common are truck crashes in Leon?
Since 2015, 143 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Decatur County (84 injured, 11 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Leon?
Since 2015, I-35 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Leon: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Leon?
Truck crashes in Decatur County peak in January, with 16.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Leon?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Decatur County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Leon compare with Iowa?
Decatur County records 163.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Leon?
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.