ZIP 50527 (Curlew, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50527: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Palo Alto 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
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 runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 46 days.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 15.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.4%).
November through March accounts for 33.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (12.1%).
Road surface: 20.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50527 since 2015: SR-4 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50527 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Palo Alto County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.7% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter 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 | 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 |
ZIP 50527 at a glance
| Population | 106 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median home value | $190,747 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 7. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50527
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50527?
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 ZIP 50527?
Truck crashes in Palo Alto County peak in June, with 15.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50527?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Palo Alto County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 50527 compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 89.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Palo Alto County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 50527?
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.