ZIP 51242 (Lester, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51242: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lyon 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
0 of 147 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lyon County compares with Iowa
Lyon County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lyon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lyon County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 98.4 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.0% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Lyon County has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Lyon County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 147 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lyon County since 2015: 83 people were injured and 7 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 30 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 11.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 2.7%.
November through March accounts for 47.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 10.9% of truck crashes.
22.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 51242 since 2015: SR-182 (1) and US-75 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Lyon County since 2015.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51242 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lyon County.
- With 22.4% 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
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lyon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-182 | 1 |
| US-75 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lyon County) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 7 |
| State 9/Iowa 9 | 5 |
| Ia 9 | 4 |
| Us 75 And A034/210Th St | 3 |
| State 182/Iowa 182 | 3 |
| Ia 182 | 3 |
| A052/260Th St | 3 |
| 110Th St | 2 |
ZIP 51242 at a glance
| Population | 379 |
| Density | 27 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $95,625 |
| Median home value | $204,181 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lyon 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 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 5 | +72% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 13 | +143% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | -16% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51242
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 51242?
Since 2015, 147 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lyon County (83 injured, 7 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 51242?
Truck crashes in Lyon County peak in December, with 11.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 51242?
Since 2015, Lyon County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 51242 compare with Iowa?
Lyon County records 98.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 51242?
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.