Elmwood, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elmwood: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elmwood and Clay County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Clay County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 418 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with Minnesota
Clay County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 51.5 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 72% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.6% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.8% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Clay County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Clay County: 45.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Overview
Clay County has recorded 418 truck crashes since 2015, with 142 people injured and 18 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 22 truck crashes were reported in Elmwood since 2015; patterns below come from Clay County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 4.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 54.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (9.3%).
45.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Elmwood since 2015: I-94 (4). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Elmwood fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Clay County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 45.1% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 192 |
| Usth 10 | 42 |
| 90Th Ave | 20 |
| Usth 75 | 15 |
| 140Th St | 13 |
| 70Th St | 8 |
| 28Th Ave | 7 |
| 160Th Ave | 6 |
Elmwood at a glance
| Population | 414 |
| Land area | 35.5 sq mi |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56580) | $107,813 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56580) | $279,524 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay 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 | 14 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 30 | +116% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 35 | +18% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 36 | +2% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 36. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elmwood
How many truck accidents are there in Elmwood?
418 truck crashes have been reported in Clay County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 142 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elmwood?
December has the most truck crashes in Clay County, 14.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Elmwood?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clay County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Elmwood compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 51.5 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Elmwood?
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.