DES MOINES, Iowa- There were 319 fatalities on Iowa roads in 2018, although that's a preliminary estimate. The Iowa Department of Transportation expects to issue the final number at a later time. Dennis Kleen of the Iowa DOT tells WHO Radio News the state has recorded around 320 road fatalities each year for the past several years. The exception was in 2016, when there were 402 fatalities.
Polk county recorded the most, with 27. Other counties with double digit fatalities include Scott, Linn, Black Hawk, Webster, and Pottawattamie. Fifteen counties had no fatal crashes.
June was the deadliest month, with 39 road fatalities. Kleen says there are usually higher numbers in the summer months, because traffic volume is higher.