Columbus City, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbus City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Columbus City and Louisa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Louisa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 88 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Louisa County compares with Iowa
Louisa County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Louisa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Louisa County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 71.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 45% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 42% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.6% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 36% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 22.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | same |
Louisa County has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes.
What stands out in Louisa County: April 13.6% of truck crashes happen in April, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 88 crashes involving commercial trucks in Louisa County since 2015: 34 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 48 days.
Columbus City had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Louisa County numbers.
59% of truck crash reports in Louisa County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is April with 13.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 2.3%.
November through March accounts for 38.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 10.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.8% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Columbus City since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-X17 (1), CR-X37 (1), SR-92 (1) and Third St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Columbus City fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Louisa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-X17 | 1 |
| CR-X37 | 1 |
| SR-92 | 1 |
| Third St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Louisa County) |
|---|---|
| US-61 | 10 |
| Ia 92 | 4 |
| State 92/Iowa 92 | 4 |
| Ia 70 | 3 |
| County Rd X 37 | 3 |
| County Line Rd And 190Th St | 2 |
| County Rd G62 And U Ave | 2 |
| Locust St And Us 61 | 2 |
Columbus City at a glance
| Population | 385 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,604 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52737) | $89,875 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52737) | $111,840 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Louisa 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 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | +18% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 6 | +39% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 7 | +17% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 7 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbus City
How many truck crashes happen in Columbus City?
Since 2015, 88 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Louisa County (34 injured, 5 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Columbus City?
Truck crashes in Louisa County peak in April, with 13.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Columbus City?
Since 2015, Louisa County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Columbus City compare with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Louisa County has 71.0 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Columbus City?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.