Prairie Island, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Prairie Island: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Prairie Island and Merrick County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Merrick County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 132 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Merrick County compares with Nebraska
Merrick County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Merrick County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Merrick County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 143.8 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 2.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 55% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 23% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.6% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Merrick County has lower values than Nebraska for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in Merrick County: October worst month: 15.2% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 132 crashes involving commercial trucks in Merrick County since 2015: 68 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Prairie Island since 2015; patterns below come from Merrick County as a whole.
70% of truck crash reports in Merrick County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (15.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.6% of truck crashes.
12.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 16.7% across Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Prairie Island since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-14TH Road (1) and US-30 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Nebraska: 1.8%).
Route planning tips for Prairie Island fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Merrick County.
- 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 Merrick County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-14TH Road | 1 |
| US-30 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Merrick County) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 31 |
| Ne-92 | 5 |
| SR-30 | 4 |
| 030 /352.990/Us30 Ne Of "W" Rd-Ne Of Clarks | 3 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| 014 /83.700/N14 & "P" Rd-N Of Central City | 2 |
| 030 /338.450/16Th St(Us30) W Of 5Th Ave-Ent | 2 |
| 030 /351.890/Us30 Sw Of 27Th Rd-Ne Of Clarks | 2 |
Prairie Island at a glance
| Population | 83 |
| Land area | 12.2 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 68846) | $68,333 |
| Median home value (ZIP 68846) | $96,136 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Merrick 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 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 8 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 9 | +10% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | +32% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Prairie Island
How many truck crashes happen in Prairie Island?
Merrick County has had 132 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 68 people and killing 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Prairie Island?
October has the most truck crashes in Merrick County, 15.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Prairie Island?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Merrick County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Prairie Island compared with Nebraska?
Per 100,000 residents, Merrick County has 143.8 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Prairie Island?
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.