Curlew, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Curlew: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Curlew and Palo Alto County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Palo Alto County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 91 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Palo Alto County compares with Iowa
Palo Alto County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Palo Alto County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Palo Alto County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 34% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.7% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 54% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Palo Alto County has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Palo Alto County: June worst month: 15.4% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 91 crashes involving commercial trucks in Palo Alto County since 2015: 29 people were injured and 2 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 46 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Curlew since 2015; patterns below come from Palo Alto County as a whole.
74% of truck crash reports in Palo Alto County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 15.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 33.3% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 12.1% of truck crashes.
20.7% 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 Curlew since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-4 (2) and US-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Curlew fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 20.7% 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Palo Alto County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-4 | 2 |
| US-18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Palo Alto County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 3 |
| 3700-Blk 480Th Ave | 2 |
| 390St & 580 Ave | 2 |
| 4200 280 St | 2 |
| 480Th Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| 4900 370 St | 2 |
| 4900 460 Ave | 2 |
| State 4/460 Ave And 390 St | 2 |
Curlew at a glance
| Population | 38 |
| Land area | 0.8 sq mi |
| Density | 51 per sq mi |
| Median home value (ZIP 50527) | $190,747 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Palo Alto 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +93% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 8 | +41% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 7 | -11% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Curlew
How many truck accidents are there in Curlew?
Palo Alto County has had 91 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 29 people and killing 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Curlew?
Truck crashes in Palo Alto County peak in June, with 15.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Curlew?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Palo Alto County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Curlew compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Palo Alto County has 89.8 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Curlew?
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.