Lester Prairie, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lester Prairie: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lester Prairie 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 sits below Minnesota on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
McLeod County at a glance: 7.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
McLeod County has recorded 210 truck crashes since 2015, with 133 people injured and 17 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
Lester Prairie had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use McLeod County numbers.
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 Lester Prairie since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-7 (2), 16th St E (1) and US-212 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.8% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Lester Prairie fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in McLeod County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-7 | 2 |
| 16th St E | 1 |
| US-212 | 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 |
Lester Prairie at a glance
| Population | 1,895 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,889 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55354) | $97,941 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55354) | $266,003 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 19. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 Lester Prairie
How many truck crashes happen in Lester Prairie?
210 truck crashes have been reported in McLeod County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 133 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Lester Prairie?
Truck crashes in McLeod County peak in September, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Lester Prairie?
Since 2015, McLeod County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Lester Prairie compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 47.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in McLeod County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lester Prairie?
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.