Watertown, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Watertown: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Watertown and Carver County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Carver County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
17 of 349 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Carver County compares with Minnesota
Carver County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Carver County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Carver County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.7 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 14% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Carver County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Carver County: 1 in 20 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.0%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 349 crashes involving commercial trucks in Carver County since 2015: 147 people were injured and 10 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 13 days in fully reported years.
Only 24 truck crashes were reported in Watertown since 2015; patterns below come from Carver County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.7% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.0% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
US-12 leads within 10 miles of Watertown with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-7 (2), CR-6 Watertown Rd (1) and CR-92 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 17 crashes, 4.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Watertown fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-12, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 28.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Minnesota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Carver County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 4 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
| CR-6 Watertown Rd | 1 |
| CR-92 | 1 |
| Railroad Ave E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Carver County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 212 | 51 |
| Mnth 7 | 23 |
| Arboretum Blvd | 17 |
| Mnth 41 | 11 |
| Mnth 5 | 9 |
| Hwy | 9 |
| Flying Cloud Dr | 9 |
| Csah 10 | 9 |
Watertown at a glance
| Population | 4,774 |
| Land area | 2.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,818 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55388) | $99,375 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55388) | $356,890 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Carver 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 | 9 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 36 | +289% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 28 | -21% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 27 | -4% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 9 a year in the 1990s and 27 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 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Watertown
How common are truck crashes in Watertown?
Carver County has had 349 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 147 people and killing 10.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Watertown?
US-12 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Watertown since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Watertown?
December has the most truck crashes in Carver County, 12.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Watertown?
17 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Carver County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Watertown compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Carver County has 25.7 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Watertown?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.