O'Brien County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in O'Brien 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 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How O'Brien County compares with Iowa
O'Brien County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where O'Brien County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | O'Brien County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 80% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 33% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 28% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.2% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, O'Brien County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in O'Brien County: December 15.4% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 143 crashes involving commercial trucks in O'Brien County since 2015: 83 people were injured and 1 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 29 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 15.4% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (4.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.2% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 23.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in O'Brien County happened on CR-L36/NETTLE Ave (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for O'Brien County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in O'Brien County.
- 23.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 O'Brien County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in O'Brien County) |
|---|---|
| CR-L36/NETTLE Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (O'Brien County) |
|---|---|
| Us 18/320Th St | 9 |
| US-18 | 8 |
| Eastern St And Us 18/E 7Th St | 4 |
| US-59 | 4 |
| Ia 60 | 3 |
| 2Nd Ave | 2 |
| L026 / Mckinley Ave | 2 |
| L026/Mckinley Ave And 430Th St | 2 |
O'Brien County at a glance
| Population | 14,260 |
| Land area | 573.0 sq mi |
| Density | 25 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $75,734 |
Historical data: truck crashes in O'Brien 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 6 | +7% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 11 | +82% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 13 | +17% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 13. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in O'Brien County
ZIP codes in O'Brien County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about O'Brien County
How common are truck crashes in O'Brien County?
O'Brien County has had 143 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 83 people and killing 1.
When do most truck crashes happen in O'Brien County?
The worst month is December: 15.4% of truck crashes in O'Brien County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in O'Brien County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in O'Brien County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in O'Brien County compared with Iowa?
O'Brien County records 87.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in O'Brien 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.