Otho, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Otho: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Otho and Webster County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Webster County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 274 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Webster County compares with Iowa
Webster County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Webster County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Webster County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 7% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.0% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.8% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Webster County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Otho: US-20 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Otho since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 274 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Webster County. They injured 114 people and killed 9.
That averages about one truck crash every 16 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Otho since 2015; patterns below come from Webster County as a whole.
55% of truck crash reports in Webster County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.4%).
November through March accounts for 47.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.0% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-20 leads within 10 miles of Otho with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-D20 200Th St (1), CR-D20/230TH St (1) and CR-G20 200Th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Otho fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Webster County.
- Look at alternatives to US-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 27.6% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- With 23.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Webster County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 2 |
| CR-D20 200Th St | 1 |
| CR-D20/230TH St | 1 |
| CR-G20 200Th St | 1 |
| Paragon Ave | 1 |
| SR-7 | 1 |
| US-169 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Webster County) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 11 |
| US-20 | 11 |
| Us 20/235Th St | 9 |
| D014/170Th St | 4 |
| P029/Baxter Ave | 4 |
| Us 169 And State 7/190Th St An | 3 |
| Paragon Ave | 3 |
| 120Th St | 2 |
Otho at a glance
| Population | 417 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 941 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50569) | $44,375 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50569) | $96,700 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Webster 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 | 9 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 18 | +105% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 21 | +14% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 23 | +11% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 9 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 23. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Otho
How common are truck crashes in Otho?
274 truck crashes have been reported in Webster County since 2015, with 9 deaths and 114 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Otho?
NHTSA data shows US-20 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Otho since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Otho?
Truck crashes in Webster County peak in January, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Otho?
Since 2015, Webster County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Otho compared with Iowa?
Webster County records 63.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Otho?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.