Bridgewater, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bridgewater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bridgewater and Rice County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rice County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 543 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rice County compares with Minnesota
Rice County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rice County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rice County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.1 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 36.6% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 29.3% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 22.3% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Rice County sits below Minnesota on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Rice County at a glance: 1 in 83 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.2%, vs 2.8% in Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 543 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rice County since 2015: 206 people were injured and 15 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 28 truck crashes reported in Bridgewater since 2015, this page uses Rice County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 13.8% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (4.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.2% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.3% of truck crashes.
36.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-19 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: CR-23 (1), CR-86 30Th St W (1) and I-35 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Bridgewater fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-19 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 36.6% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Rice County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-19 | 2 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| CR-86 30Th St W | 1 |
| I-35 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| Ts-Groveland Tr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rice County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 108 |
| 7Th St Nw | 23 |
| Morristown Blvd | 11 |
| Lonsdale Blvd | 8 |
| Mnth 21 | 6 |
| Sb I-35 65 Mm | 6 |
| Faribault Blvd | 6 |
| Cabot Ave | 6 |
Bridgewater at a glance
| Population | 1,839 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 51 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55019) | $117,381 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55019) | $350,097 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rice 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 | 17 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 35 | +105% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 40 | +14% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 47 | +17% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 17 to 47. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bridgewater
How many truck crashes happen in Bridgewater?
Rice County has had 543 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 206 people and killing 15.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bridgewater?
SR-19 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Bridgewater since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bridgewater?
The worst month is December: 13.8% of truck crashes in Rice County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bridgewater?
Since 2015, Rice County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Bridgewater compare with Minnesota?
Rice County records 66.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bridgewater?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.