Lee County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lee County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 204 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lee County compares with Iowa
Lee County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lee County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 13% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.8% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.9% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Lee County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes.
What stands out in Lee County: 9.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Iowa: 3.5).
Overview
Lee County has recorded 204 truck crashes since 2015, with 85 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 20 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 12.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.4%.
November through March accounts for 46.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 14.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-218 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come SR-27 (3), SR-16 (2) and SR-2 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Lee County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-218 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Lee County) |
|---|---|
| US-218 | 7 |
| SR-27 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| CR-J38/LOCUST St | 1 |
| US-61 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lee County) |
|---|---|
| US-218 | 14 |
| US-61 | 11 |
| State 16/Iowa 16 | 6 |
| State 27/Iowa 27 | 4 |
| Us 218 S And Ia 16 | 3 |
| Carbide Ln And Us 61 | 3 |
| 255Th St And Ia 27 | 3 |
| 10Th St Us 218/Main St | 2 |
Lee County at a glance
| Population | 32,376 |
| Land area | 517.5 sq mi |
| Density | 63 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $63,235 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lee 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 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 20 | +84% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 17 | -14% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | +16% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 11 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Lee County
ZIP codes in Lee County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Lee County
How many truck crashes happen in Lee County?
Since 2015, 204 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lee County (85 injured, 18 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Lee County?
US-218 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Lee County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Lee County?
The worst month is February: 12.3% of truck crashes in Lee County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Lee County?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lee County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Lee County compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 55.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lee County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lee County?
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.