Primghar, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Primghar: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Primghar and O'Brien County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use O'Brien County numbers.
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
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
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 |
O'Brien County sits below Iowa 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.
O'Brien County at a glance: December the month with the most truck crashes: 15.4% of the year's total.
Overview
O'Brien County has recorded 143 truck crashes since 2015, with 83 people injured and 1 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 29 days in fully reported years.
With 1 truck crash reported in Primghar since 2015, this page uses O'Brien County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
57% of truck crash reports in O'Brien County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 15.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 4.2%.
November through March accounts for 48.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in 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
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Primghar since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Primghar fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in O'Brien County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 23.4% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter 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 O'Brien County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
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 |
Primghar at a glance
| Population | 893 |
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Density | 657 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51245) | $69,531 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51245) | $142,406 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Primghar
How many truck accidents are there in Primghar?
143 truck crashes have been reported in O'Brien County since 2015, with 1 deaths and 83 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Primghar?
The worst month is December: 15.4% of truck crashes in O'Brien County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Primghar?
Since 2015, O'Brien County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Primghar compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
O'Brien County records 87.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Primghar?
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.