Helen, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Helen: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Helen and McLeod County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McLeod County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 210 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McLeod County compares with Minnesota
McLeod County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McLeod County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McLeod County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 50% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.5% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
McLeod County has lower values than Minnesota for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in McLeod County: 7.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Police reported 210 crashes involving commercial trucks in McLeod County since 2015: 133 people were injured and 17 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
With 15 truck crashes reported in Helen since 2015, this page uses McLeod County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in February (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.5% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Helen since 2015 were spread across roads: US-212 (2) and 16th St E (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Helen fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 McLeod County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-212 | 2 |
| 16th St E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McLeod County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 212 | 47 |
| Mnth 15 | 34 |
| Mnth 7 | 18 |
| Mnth 22 | 17 |
| 4Th Ave Nw | 5 |
| Babcock Ave | 5 |
| Hwy | 4 |
| Major Ave | 3 |
Helen at a glance
| Population | 845 |
| Land area | 35.1 sq mi |
| Density | 24 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55370) | $103,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55370) | $304,012 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McLeod 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 | 5 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 15 | +185% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 14 | -9% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 19 | +39% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 19. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Helen
How many truck crashes happen in Helen?
210 truck crashes have been reported in McLeod County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 133 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Helen?
The worst month is September: 13.3% of truck crashes in McLeod County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Helen?
Since 2015, McLeod County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Helen compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, McLeod County has 47.0 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Helen?
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.