ZIP 50597 (West Bend, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50597: 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 sits below Iowa on 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 15.4% of truck crashes happen in June, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 91 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Palo Alto County. They injured 29 people and killed 2.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 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%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 33.3% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
20.7% 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 50597 happened on 70th Ave (1), SR-15 (1) and US-18 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50597 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Palo Alto County.
- 20.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Palo Alto County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 70th Ave | 1 |
| SR-15 | 1 |
| US-18 | 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 50597 at a glance
| Population | 1,341 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $92,000 |
| Median home value | $182,422 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 7 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 50597
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 50597?
Since 2015, 91 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Palo Alto County (29 injured, 2 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 50597?
The worst month is June: 15.4% of truck crashes in Palo Alto County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50597?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Palo Alto County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 50597 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 89.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Palo Alto County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 50597?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.