Black River, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Black River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Black River and Pennington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pennington County numbers.
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 runs above Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Pennington County: 8.6 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.0 across Minnesota.
Overview
Pennington County has recorded 35 truck crashes since 2015, with 25 people injured and 3 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 115 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Black River since 2015, this page uses Pennington County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (17.1% of the year) and are lowest in July (2.9%).
November through March accounts for 40.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (20.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.7% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Black River since 2015: SR-1 (1) and SR-32 (1). 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 Black River fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pennington County.
- 31.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Minnesota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 1 |
| SR-32 | 1 |
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 |
Black River at a glance
| Population | 63 |
| Land area | 24.0 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56754) | $79,167 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56754) | $214,400 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Black River
How many truck crashes happen in Black River?
Pennington County has had 35 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 25 people and killing 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Black River?
Truck crashes in Pennington County peak in August, with 17.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Black River?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Pennington County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Black River compare with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 23.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pennington County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Black River?
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.