Turtle River, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Turtle River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Turtle River and Beltrami County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Beltrami County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 78 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Beltrami County compares with Minnesota
Beltrami County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Beltrami County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Beltrami County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 63% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.0% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.4% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 21.6% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Beltrami County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Beltrami County: January worst month: 19.2% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 78 crashes involving commercial trucks in Beltrami County since 2015: 33 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 54 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Turtle River since 2015, this page uses Beltrami County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 19.2% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (2.6%).
November through March accounts for 55.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (10.3%).
Road surface: 31.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Turtle River since 2015: CR-20 Birchmont Beach Dr Ne (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Turtle River fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 31.1% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Beltrami County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-20 Birchmont Beach Dr Ne | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Beltrami County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 2 | 20 |
| Usth 71 | 8 |
| Mnth 72 | 7 |
| Hwy Ne | 4 |
| Mnth 89 | 4 |
| Hwy Nw | 2 |
| Paul Bunyan Dr Nw | 2 |
| At The Intersection Of Washington Ave S And Carr L | 1 |
Turtle River at a glance
| Population | 82 |
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
| Density | 77 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56601) | $72,262 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56601) | $260,177 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Beltrami 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 | 4 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 9 | +131% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 9 | +4% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 5 | -43% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Turtle River
How common are truck crashes in Turtle River?
Beltrami County has had 78 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 33 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Turtle River?
Truck crashes in Beltrami County peak in January, with 19.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Turtle River?
Since 2015, Beltrami County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Turtle River compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Beltrami County records 14.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Turtle River?
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.