Car accident statistics for Polk County, Iowa (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Polk County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 33 in 2020 to 39 in 2021, then fell to 27 in 2022. The count rose to 35 in 2023 and 43 in 2024. The highest count was in 2024, and the lowest was in 2022. The 2024 count was 10 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 38 in 2020, 45 in 2021, 33 in 2022, 39 in 2023 and 47 in 2024. Car accidents accounted for 86.8% of traffic deaths in 2020, 86.7% in 2021, 81.8% in 2022, 89.7% in 2023 and 91.5% in 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Polk County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 108 deaths, or 61.0% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 39 deaths and 22.0%. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 30 deaths and 16.9%, the smallest category.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The labels describe the FARS person groupings, rather than the county of residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep these category definitions in mind when reading the counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 58 deaths, or 32.8%; Head-on for 14, or 7.9%; Rear-end for 17, or 9.6%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 3.4%. Other accounted for 2 deaths, or 1.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 80 deaths, or 45.2%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This row includes events such as striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 106 car accident deaths, or 59.9%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 71 deaths, or 40.1%. Nighttime had the larger share of deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification accounted for 158 deaths and 89.3%, while the rural classification accounted for 19 deaths and 10.7%. These classifications refer to crash locations. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 18 car accident deaths, or 10.2%. The truck-involvement figures count deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes that also included a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Iowa and the United States

Polk County's car accident death rate was 7.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate was lower than Iowa's 8.9 and the national rate of 10.5. The corresponding death counts were 177 for Polk County, 1,430 for Iowa and 176,219 for the United States. No rates for listed neighboring counties are supplied in the fact sheet.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's separately reported 2024 population estimate of 513,511 is not the denominator used to calculate its rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Polk County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 72 deaths (35.6%); Roadway departure, 79 (39.1%); At an intersection, 79 (39.1%); Pedestrian involved, 30 (14.9%); Motorcycle involved, 56 (27.7%); Hit-and-run, 7 (3.5%); Driver distraction reported, 12 (5.9%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These death counts are not limited to the passenger-vehicle-involved crashes used for the car accident statistics. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. They are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. It includes crashes involving a motor vehicle on a trafficway customarily open to the public when a vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. Counts follow the county where the crash happened, not where the person lived. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjusting for miles driven or visitors; the separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Iowa car accident statistics (2020-2024)