Patterson, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Patterson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Patterson and Madison County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Madison County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 77 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Madison County compares with Iowa
Madison County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Madison County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Madison County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 41% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 3.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.4% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 11.1% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 52% below the state |
Madison County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Madison County: 1 in 14 crashes involve a garbage truck (5 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 77 crashes involving commercial trucks in Madison County since 2015: 18 people were injured and 3 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 56 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Patterson since 2015, this page uses Madison County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
73% of truck crash reports in Madison County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 15.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 2.6%.
November through March accounts for 40.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 15.6% of truck crashes.
27.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Patterson since 2015 were spread across roads: I-35 (2), CR-P71 W Summit St (1) and Ts-Upland Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 6.5% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Patterson fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.6% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- With 27.8% 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
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 Madison County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 2 |
| CR-P71 W Summit St | 1 |
| Ts-Upland Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Madison County) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 6 |
| G04R/Cumming Rd | 3 |
| 105Th St | 2 |
| Ia 92 | 2 |
| Ivy Ave (1000 Blk) | 2 |
| 130Th St And Cottonwood Ave | 1 |
| 1689 260Th St | 1 |
| 220Th St | 1 |
Patterson at a glance
| Population | 176 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 390 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50218) | $82,969 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Madison 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 | 1 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 6 | +457% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 7 | +2% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 7 | +4% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1 to 7. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Patterson
How many truck accidents are there in Patterson?
Madison County has had 77 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 18 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Patterson?
October has the most truck crashes in Madison County, 15.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Patterson?
Since 2015, Madison County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 6.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Patterson compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 38.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Madison County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Patterson?
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.