Blue Earth County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Blue Earth County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 358 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Blue Earth County compares with Minnesota
Blue Earth County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Blue Earth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Blue Earth County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.8 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 25% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 17.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Blue Earth County sits below Minnesota on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Blue Earth County: US-169 most fatal truck crashes in Blue Earth County: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 358 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Blue Earth County. They injured 125 people and killed 15.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.1% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
US-169 leads in Blue Earth County with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-10 164Th St (1), CR-3 N Victory Dr (1) and CR-50 535Th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Blue Earth County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Blue Earth County.
- Look at alternatives to US-169 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.1% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Blue Earth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Blue Earth County) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 3 |
| CR-10 164Th St | 1 |
| CR-3 N Victory Dr | 1 |
| CR-50 535Th Ave | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-30 | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| SR-83 | 1 |
| US-14 | 1 |
| Us-Usth 14 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Blue Earth County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 14 | 47 |
| Usth 169 | 45 |
| Mnth 60 | 29 |
| Mnth 22 | 25 |
| Hwy | 10 |
| Mnth 30 | 9 |
| 3Rd Ave | 8 |
| N Riverfront Dr | 7 |
Blue Earth County at a glance
| Population | 70,700 |
| Land area | 747.8 sq mi |
| Density | 95 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $75,480 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Blue Earth 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 | 8 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 23 | +191% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 30 | +27% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 27 | -8% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 27. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Blue Earth County
ZIP codes in Blue Earth County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Blue Earth County
How many truck crashes happen in Blue Earth County?
358 truck crashes have been reported in Blue Earth County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 125 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Blue Earth County?
US-169 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Blue Earth County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Blue Earth County?
The worst month is December: 12.0% of truck crashes in Blue Earth County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Blue Earth County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Blue Earth County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
How does Blue Earth County compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Blue Earth County records 42.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Blue Earth County?
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.