ZIP 51561 (Pacific Junction, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51561: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mills 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
4 of 181 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mills County compares with Iowa
Mills County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mills County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mills County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 106.2 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.6% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 26.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Mills County has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Mills County at a glance: September the month with the most truck crashes: 14.4% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 181 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mills County. They injured 82 people and killed 5.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 23 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (14.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (3.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
11.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-34 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). After it: I-29 (2), CR-L35 221St St (1) and SR-370 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 2.2%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51561 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-34, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 26.2% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Mills County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 6 |
| I-29 | 2 |
| CR-L35 221St St | 1 |
| SR-370 | 1 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mills County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 24 |
| I-29 | 10 |
| Interstate 29/I 29 | 7 |
| Us 34 And L031/195Th St | 3 |
| US-59 | 3 |
| US-275 | 3 |
| Hwy 34 And Deacon Ave | 2 |
| Interstate 29 Nb 37Mm | 2 |
ZIP 51561 at a glance
| Population | 1,039 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $113,421 |
| Median home value | $389,684 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mills 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 | 6 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 8 | +24% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 15 | +100% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 16 | +3% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 16 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51561
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 51561?
Mills County has had 181 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 82 people and killing 5.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 51561?
NHTSA data shows US-34 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51561 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 51561?
Truck crashes in Mills County peak in September, with 14.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 51561?
Since 2015, Mills County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 51561 compare with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Mills County has 106.2 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 51561?
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.