Columbia Heights, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbia Heights: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Columbia Heights and Anoka County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Anoka County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Anoka County compares with Minnesota
Anoka County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Anoka County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Anoka County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 49% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.9% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 30% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Anoka County has lower values than Minnesota for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
The headline for Anoka County: 1 in 21 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.8%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 906 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Anoka County. They injured 344 people and killed 21.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Columbia Heights had 18 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Anoka County numbers.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.9% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
SR-47 leads within 10 miles of Columbia Heights with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come Lyndale Ave N (2), SR-65 (2) and US-169 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 44 of the truck crashes here, or 4.9%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (20%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Columbia Heights fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-47; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Anoka County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-47 | 3 |
| Lyndale Ave N | 2 |
| SR-65 | 2 |
| US-169 | 2 |
| 12th St N | 1 |
| 72nd Ave Ne | 1 |
| Alleyway | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| CR-102 Douglas Drive | 1 |
| CR-103 W Broadway Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Anoka County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 694 | 49 |
| Central Ave Ne | 38 |
| Mnth 65 | 36 |
| Usth 10 | 35 |
| University Ave Ne | 22 |
| Naples St Ne | 18 |
| Main St | 14 |
| Lake Dr | 13 |
Columbia Heights at a glance
| Population | 22,358 |
| Land area | 3.4 sq mi |
| Density | 6,560 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55421) | $70,772 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55421) | $273,477 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Anoka 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 | 17 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 73 | +329% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 74 | +2% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 76 | +2% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 76 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 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbia Heights
How many truck crashes happen in Columbia Heights?
Anoka County has had 906 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 344 people and killing 21.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Columbia Heights?
NHTSA data shows SR-47 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Columbia Heights since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Columbia Heights?
Truck crashes in Anoka County peak in December, with 11.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Columbia Heights?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in Anoka County since 2015 (4.9% of truck crashes).
How does Columbia Heights compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Anoka County records 20.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Columbia Heights?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.