ZIP 50261 (Van Meter, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50261: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Madison County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 77 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Madison County compares with Iowa
Madison County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Madison County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Madison County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 41% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 3.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.4% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 11.1% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 52% below the state |
Madison County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Madison County at a glance: 1 in 14 crashes involve a garbage truck (5 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 77 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Madison County. They injured 18 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 56 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 15.6% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (2.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (15.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.8% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 50261 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-35 (4), SR-5 (1) and US-6 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 6.5% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50261 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 30.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 27.8% 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 Madison County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| I-35 | 4 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Madison County) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 6 |
| G04R/Cumming Rd | 3 |
| 105Th St | 2 |
| Ia 92 | 2 |
| Ivy Ave (1000 Blk) | 2 |
| 130Th St And Cottonwood Ave | 1 |
| 1689 260Th St | 1 |
| 220Th St | 1 |
ZIP 50261 at a glance
| Population | 3,399 |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $155,278 |
| Median home value | $379,276 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Madison 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 | 1 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 6 | +457% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 7 | +2% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 7 | +4% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 1 truck crash a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 7. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50261
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50261?
Madison County has had 77 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 18 people and killing 3.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 50261?
I-80 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50261 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 50261?
Truck crashes in Madison County peak in October, with 15.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 50261?
Since 2015, Madison County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 6.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 50261 compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 38.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Madison County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 50261?
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.