US 34 in Iowa: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 59 fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa killed 69 people, the 5th most of 137 numbered roads in Iowa. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 12 counties of Iowa. All fatal crashes in Iowa.
Deaths on US 34 in Iowa by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 8 | 11 |
| 2022 | 6 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 7 | 9 |
| 2019 | 6 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 | 10 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 34 in Iowa: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Mills County had the most fatal crashes on US 34 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 11 deaths. Mills, Union and Des Moines counties together held 39% of fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa from 2015 to 2024; the 8 listed held 83%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mills County | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| 2 | Union County | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | Des Moines County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Wapello County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Henry County | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 6 | Monroe County | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Montgomery County | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 8 | Jefferson County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 34 in Iowa
59 fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 10.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.4%
- Feb8.5%
- Mar8.5%
- Apr13.6%
- May10.2%
- Jun11.9%
- Jul3.4%
- Aug10.2%
- Sep6.8%
- Oct5.1%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec10.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 59%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 17%, a pedestrian in 8.5%, a rollover in 6.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 35 | 59% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 10 | 17% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 8.5% |
| Rollover | 4 | 6.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 3.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 3.4% |
| Other | 1 | 1.7% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa compare with the state
The largest difference from Iowa: from 2015 to 2024, 85% of fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa were on rural roads, against 72% across Iowa. Below the Iowa share: speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Iowa. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 59 crashes.
| US 34 | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 85% | 72% | above the Iowa share |
| At or near an intersection | 25% | 27% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 28% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A drinking driver | 31% | 25% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Speeding | 8.5% | 20% | below the Iowa share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 10% | 7.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 45% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.4% | 2.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 17% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.2% | 7.1% | about the same as the Iowa share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on US 34 in Iowa
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 34 in Iowa?
- 59 fatal crashes killed 69 people on US 34 in Iowa from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 34 in Iowa do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Mills County had the most fatal crashes on US 34 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 11 deaths. Union County was second with 7.
Other roads in Iowa with a page
All fatal crashes in Iowa, with every road ranked.
Where the US 34 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 34 in Iowa (filed under 4 spellings, such as "US-34", "US-34 TAYLOR ST", "US-34 W BURLINGTON AVE", "US-34/INFANTRY DIVISION HWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.