Medicine Lake, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Medicine Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Medicine Lake and Hennepin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hennepin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hennepin County compares with Minnesota
Hennepin County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hennepin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hennepin County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.7 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 67% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 36% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 17.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Hennepin County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
Hennepin County at a glance: 1.0 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.0 in Minnesota.
Overview
Hennepin County has recorded 4,851 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,545 people injured and 52 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Medicine Lake since 2015, this page uses Hennepin County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 9.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.2% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.4% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Medicine Lake since 2015 were spread across roads: Lyndale Ave N (2), SR-55 (2), US-169 (2), 12th St N (1) and Alleyway (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
187 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.9% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (13% of them).
They recorded 1.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Medicine Lake fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Hennepin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Lyndale Ave N | 2 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| US-169 | 2 |
| 12th St N | 1 |
| Alleyway | 1 |
| CR-10 | 1 |
| CR-102 Douglas Drive | 1 |
| CR-103 W Broadway Ave | 1 |
| CR-15 Shoreline Dr | 1 |
| CR-152 Cedar Ave S | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hennepin County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 430 |
| Isth 494 | 263 |
| Usth 169 | 160 |
| Csah 81 | 68 |
| Mnth 55 | 55 |
| Mnth 62 | 45 |
| Washington Ave | 44 |
| Mnth 100 | 42 |
Medicine Lake at a glance
| Population | 1,343 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 7,763 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55441) | $101,981 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55441) | $479,662 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hennepin 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 | 103 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 435 | +324% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 435 | +0% | 4.6 |
| 2020s | 373 | -14% | 4.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 103 to 373. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 5.2 a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Medicine Lake
How many truck accidents are there in Medicine Lake?
4,851 truck crashes have been reported in Hennepin County since 2015, with 52 deaths and 1,545 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Medicine Lake?
The worst month is February: 9.7% of truck crashes in Hennepin County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Medicine Lake?
Since 2015, Hennepin County has reported 187 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Medicine Lake compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Hennepin County has 32.7 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Medicine Lake?
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.