Third River, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Third River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Third River and Itasca County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Itasca County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 169 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Itasca County compares with Minnesota
Itasca County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Itasca County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Itasca County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 17% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.5% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Itasca County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It runs above Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Itasca County at a glance: 8.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.0 in Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 169 crashes involving commercial trucks in Itasca County since 2015: 85 people were injured and 14 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 25 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Third River since 2015, this page uses Itasca County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 16.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 2.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.8% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (11.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 28.4% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Third River since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-46 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Third River fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Itasca County.
- With 28.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment 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 Itasca County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-46 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Itasca County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 2 | 36 |
| Usth 169 | 23 |
| Hwy | 9 |
| Mnth 38 | 6 |
| Mnth 6 | 6 |
| 4Th St Ne | 5 |
| Mnth 46 | 5 |
| 4Th St Nw | 4 |
Third River at a glance
| Population | 53 |
| Land area | 34.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56681) | $50,833 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56681) | $150,483 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Itasca 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 | 3 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 16 | +471% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +3% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 14 | -14% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 14 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Third River
How many truck accidents are there in Third River?
169 truck crashes have been reported in Itasca County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 85 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Third River?
The worst month is January: 16.0% of truck crashes in Itasca County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Third River?
Since 2015, Itasca County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Third River compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 32.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Itasca County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Third River?
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.