ZIP 50262 (Van Wert, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50262: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Decatur 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
3 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Decatur County compares with Iowa
Decatur County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Decatur County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Decatur County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 163.9 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 57.2% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 40.6% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.8× the state |
Compared with Iowa, Decatur County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Decatur County at a glance: 8.0 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Iowa: 3.5).
Overview
Since 2015, 143 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Decatur County. They injured 84 people and killed 11.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 29 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (16.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (3.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 57.2% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
17.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50262 happened on I-35 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50262 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Decatur 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 Decatur County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Decatur County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 11 |
| I35Sb At The 24Mm | 3 |
| I 35 Sb @ 19.30 Mile Marker | 3 |
| Hwy 2 W.B. @ I-35 N.B. On/Off | 2 |
| I 35 Sb @ 19.50 Mile Marker | 2 |
| I35Nb At The 21Mm | 2 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 2 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 24Mm | 2 |
ZIP 50262 at a glance
| Population | 263 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $81,875 |
| Median home value | $83,884 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Decatur 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 | 4 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 6 | +83% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 9 | +45% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 14 | +45% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50262
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50262?
Since 2015, 143 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Decatur County (84 injured, 11 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50262?
January has the most truck crashes in Decatur County, 16.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50262?
Since 2015, Decatur County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 50262 compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Decatur County has 163.9 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 50262?
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.