West Heron Lake, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Heron Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Heron Lake and Jackson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jackson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 185 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Jackson County compares with Minnesota
Jackson County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jackson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jackson County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 154.9 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 4.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 41.7% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.6% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 27% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.6% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.8% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Jackson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Jackson County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Minnesota.
Overview
Jackson County has recorded 185 truck crashes since 2015, with 63 people injured and 3 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 24 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in West Heron Lake since 2015; patterns below come from Jackson County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in September (1.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 53.6% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 10.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 41.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Heron Lake since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jackson County since 2015.
Route planning tips for West Heron Lake fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jackson County.
- With 41.7% 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
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 Jackson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jackson County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 90 | 62 |
| Mnth 60 | 37 |
| Mnth 86 | 12 |
| Usth 71 | 9 |
| 600Th Ave | 5 |
| 390Th Ave | 2 |
| County Road 9 | 2 |
| Hwy | 2 |
West Heron Lake at a glance
| Population | 126 |
| Land area | 27.1 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56161) | $86,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56161) | $107,914 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jackson 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 | 12 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 14 | +19% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 17 | +18% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 15 | -8% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 15. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Heron Lake
How common are truck crashes in West Heron Lake?
Jackson County has had 185 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 63 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in West Heron Lake?
The worst month is March: 12.4% of truck crashes in Jackson County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in West Heron Lake?
Since 2015, Jackson County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in West Heron Lake compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Jackson County has 154.9 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in West Heron Lake?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.