Custer, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Custer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Custer and Lyon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lyon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 163 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lyon County compares with Minnesota
Lyon County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lyon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lyon County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.8 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.2% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 30% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 14.6% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Lyon County sits below Minnesota on in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Lyon County: March 12.9% of truck crashes happen in March, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 163 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lyon County since 2015: 83 people were injured and 5 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 26 days in fully reported years.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Custer since 2015, this page uses Lyon County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (2.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (12.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 24.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Custer since 2015: CR-20 (1) and US-59 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Custer fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lyon County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.2% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lyon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-20 | 1 |
| US-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lyon County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 23 | 45 |
| Mnth 19 | 16 |
| Usth 59 | 15 |
| Mnth 68 | 8 |
| W Main St | 7 |
| E Main St | 6 |
| Hwy | 5 |
| 340Th St | 4 |
Custer at a glance
| Population | 177 |
| Land area | 35.5 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56132) | $73,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56132) | $267,982 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lyon 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 | 8 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 13 | +64% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 14 | +10% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 15 | +6% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Custer
How many truck crashes happen in Custer?
Since 2015, 163 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lyon County (83 injured, 5 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Custer?
The worst month is March: 12.9% of truck crashes in Lyon County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Custer?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Lyon County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Custer compared with Minnesota?
Lyon County records 55.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Custer?
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.