Lake County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lake County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 48 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Minnesota
Lake County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.5% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 34.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 65.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Lake County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Lake County at a glance: December the month with the most truck crashes: 20.8% of the year's total.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 48 truck crashes since 2015, with 19 people injured and 2 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 91 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (20.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 65.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 14.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 45.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Lake County since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-2 (1) and CR-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Lake County fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 45.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Minnesota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Lake County) |
|---|---|
| CR-2 | 1 |
| CR-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 61 | 18 |
| 11Th St | 2 |
| Csah 2 | 2 |
| Hwy | 2 |
| National Forest Hwy 7 | 2 |
| National Forest Hwy 9 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| 23Rd Ave | 1 |
Lake County at a glance
| Population | 10,698 |
| Land area | 2,109.1 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,332 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 2 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +275% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 4 | -30% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 4 | -11% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 4. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Lake County
ZIP codes in Lake County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Lake County
How common are truck crashes in Lake County?
Since 2015, 48 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (19 injured, 2 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Lake County?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in December, with 20.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lake County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (4.2% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Lake County compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 37.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lake County?
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.