Middletown, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Middletown: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Middletown and Des Moines County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Des Moines 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 Des Moines County compares with Iowa
Des Moines County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Des Moines County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Des Moines County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.4 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.7% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 32% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.5% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 15.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Des Moines County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Des Moines County: November worst month: 14.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 170 crashes involving commercial trucks in Des Moines County since 2015: 66 people were injured and 6 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 25 days in fully reported years.
Only 2 truck crashes were reported in Middletown since 2015; patterns below come from Des Moines County as a whole.
32% of truck crash reports in Des Moines County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 14.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.7% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (11.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.7% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Middletown is US-34, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come Mu-Isabella Ave (1), SR-16 (1) and Ts-E Cleveland St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Middletown fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-34, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Des Moines County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 2 |
| Mu-Isabella Ave | 1 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| Ts-E Cleveland St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Des Moines County) |
|---|---|
| US-61 | 7 |
| US-34 | 4 |
| Agency St And Us 61 | 4 |
| Mason Rd And Us 61 | 3 |
| Henry Des Moines Ave And Us 34 | 3 |
| Division St And Central Ave | 3 |
| Central Ave | 2 |
| Dmc 99 Signed Route Measuring | 2 |
Middletown at a glance
| Population | 365 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 665 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52638) | $59,167 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52638) | $149,968 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Des Moines 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 | 11 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 15 | +38% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 13 | -12% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 15 | +12% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Middletown
How many truck crashes happen in Middletown?
Des Moines County has had 170 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 66 people and killing 6.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Middletown?
NHTSA data shows US-34 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Middletown since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Middletown?
Truck crashes in Des Moines County peak in November, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Middletown?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Des Moines County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Middletown compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Des Moines County records 37.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Middletown?
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.