Merton, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merton and Steele County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Steele County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 387 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Steele County compares with Minnesota
Steele County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Steele County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Steele County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 37% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 60% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 42.2% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.3% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Steele County sits below Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Steele County at a glance: December 18.6% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
Overview
Steele County has recorded 387 truck crashes since 2015, with 120 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
With 5 truck crashes reported in Merton since 2015, this page uses Steele County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 18.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 4.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 54.2% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
Road surface: 42.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
US-14 leads within 10 miles of Merton with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-1 Cedar Ave (1), CR-24 (1) and North St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
6 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.6% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Merton fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Steele County.
- Look at alternatives to US-14 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 42.2% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Steele County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-14 | 2 |
| CR-1 Cedar Ave | 1 |
| CR-24 | 1 |
| North St | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Steele County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 85 |
| Usth 14 | 19 |
| Mineral Springs Rd Ne | 8 |
| W Frontage Rd | 5 |
| Csah 45 | 4 |
| 10Th St Sw | 3 |
| Hoffman Dr | 3 |
| Hoffman Dr Nw | 3 |
Merton at a glance
| Population | 348 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 10 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55049) | $90,625 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55049) | $243,449 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Steele 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 | 19 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 36 | +93% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 32 | -11% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 34 | +5% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 19 to 34. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merton
How many truck crashes happen in Merton?
Steele County has had 387 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 120 people and killing 7.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Merton?
NHTSA data shows US-14 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Merton since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Merton?
Truck crashes in Steele County peak in December, with 18.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Merton?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Steele County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
How does Merton compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Steele County records 87.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Merton?
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.