Elgin, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elgin: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elgin and Fayette County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Fayette County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 134 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Fayette County compares with Iowa
Fayette County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fayette County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fayette County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 11% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 48% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 18.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Fayette County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Fayette County: 7.9 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Iowa: 3.5).
Overview
Fayette County has recorded 134 truck crashes since 2015, with 78 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Elgin since 2015, this page uses Fayette County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
59% of truck crash reports in Fayette County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (13.4% of the year) and are lowest in February (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 21.3% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elgin since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-150 (1) and SR-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 3.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Elgin fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 21.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Fayette County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-150 | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fayette County) |
|---|---|
| W Ave | 7 |
| Ia 150 | 5 |
| Ia 3 | 4 |
| State 187/C Ave | 4 |
| Us 18/230Th St | 4 |
| Us 18/Harding Rd | 4 |
| V Ave | 3 |
| State 150/Lincoln Rd | 3 |
Elgin at a glance
| Population | 676 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 997 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52141) | $64,647 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52141) | $117,762 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fayette 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 | 3 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 10 | +287% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 10 | -1% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 13 | +22% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 13. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elgin
How many truck crashes happen in Elgin?
Since 2015, 134 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Fayette County (78 injured, 10 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Elgin?
Truck crashes in Fayette County peak in November, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Elgin?
Since 2015, Fayette County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Elgin compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 60.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Fayette County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Elgin?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.