ZIP 51577 (Walnut, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51577: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pottawattamie 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
15 of 1,310 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pottawattamie County compares with Iowa
Pottawattamie County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pottawattamie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pottawattamie County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Pottawattamie County has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in ZIP 51577: I-80 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51577: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pottawattamie County since 2015: 420 people were injured and 31 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 47.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 6.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.5% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 51577 is I-80, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-59 (2) and CR-M47/510TH St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51577 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Pottawattamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 4 |
| US-59 | 2 |
| CR-M47/510TH St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pottawattamie County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 62 |
| I-29 | 20 |
| Interstate 29/I 29 | 15 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 14 |
| US-6 | 11 |
| I-880 | 8 |
| Interstate 29/I29 Ramp | 8 |
| US-59 | 6 |
ZIP 51577 at a glance
| Population | 1,561 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,518 |
| Median home value | $140,573 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pottawattamie 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 | 70 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 81 | +16% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 96 | +18% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 114 | +19% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 70 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 114. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51577
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 51577?
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pottawattamie County (420 injured, 31 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 51577?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51577 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 51577?
The worst month is January: 11.9% of truck crashes in Pottawattamie County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 51577?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Pottawattamie County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 51577 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Pottawattamie County records 118.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 51577?
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.