Melvin, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Melvin: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Melvin and Osceola County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Osceola County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 108 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Osceola County compares with Iowa
Osceola County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Osceola County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Osceola County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 159.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.1% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 23.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Iowa, Osceola County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Osceola County: December worst month: 20.4% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 108 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Osceola County. They injured 46 people and killed 3.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 38 days.
Melvin had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Osceola County numbers.
76% of truck crash reports in Osceola 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 20.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 0.9%.
November through March accounts for 52.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (12.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.5% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Melvin happened on CR-A22 170Th St (1) and SR-60 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.9% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Melvin fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.1% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- With 25.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Osceola County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-A22 170Th St | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Osceola County) |
|---|---|
| State 60/Iowa 60 | 18 |
| Ia 60 | 6 |
| 260Th St @/And Us 59 N At And | 3 |
| 230Th St | 3 |
| 100Th St | 2 |
| 170Th St | 2 |
| 180Th St | 2 |
| 220Th St And Nest Ave | 2 |
Melvin at a glance
| Population | 196 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,210 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51350) | $77,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51350) | $79,593 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Osceola 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 | 2 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 7 | +265% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 8 | +18% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 8 | -1% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Melvin
How many truck accidents are there in Melvin?
108 truck crashes have been reported in Osceola County since 2015, with 3 deaths and 46 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Melvin?
Truck crashes in Osceola County peak in December, with 20.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Melvin?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Osceola County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Melvin compare with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Osceola County has 159.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Melvin?
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.