Pennington County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pennington 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
0 of 35 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pennington County compares with Minnesota
Pennington County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pennington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pennington County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.3 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.71 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.9× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.7% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 13% below the state |
| After dark | 8.6% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 58% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Pennington County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Pennington County at a glance: 8.6 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.0 across Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 35 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pennington County. They injured 25 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 115 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 17.1% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (2.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.0% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 20.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Pennington County since 2015: SR-1 (2) and US-59 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pennington County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Pennington County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pennington County.
- Morning starts matter: 31.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- 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 Pennington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Pennington County) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 2 |
| US-59 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pennington County) |
|---|---|
| Center St | 4 |
| Mnth 1 | 4 |
| Usth 59 | 4 |
| Csah 10 | 2 |
| Hwy | 2 |
| Mnth 32 | 2 |
| 170Th Ave Ne | 1 |
| 190Th St Ne | 1 |
Pennington County at a glance
| Population | 13,652 |
| Land area | 616.5 sq mi |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $78,241 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pennington 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 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 4 | +146% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 4 | +0% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 2 | -42% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 2 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Pennington County
ZIP codes in Pennington County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Pennington County
How many truck accidents are there in Pennington County?
Since 2015, 35 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pennington County (25 injured, 3 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Pennington County?
The worst month is August: 17.1% of truck crashes in Pennington County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Pennington County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pennington County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Pennington County compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Pennington County has 23.3 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Pennington County?
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.