Leaf River, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Leaf River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Leaf River and Wadena County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wadena County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 70 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wadena County compares with Minnesota
Wadena County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wadena County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wadena County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Wadena County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Wadena County at a glance: 10.4 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.0 in Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 70 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wadena County since 2015: 39 people were injured and 7 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 60 days.
Only 6 truck crashes were reported in Leaf River since 2015; patterns below come from Wadena County as a whole.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 18.6% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (1.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 47.8% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
US-71 leads within 10 miles of Leaf River with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-23 (1) and US-10 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Leaf River fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-71, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Wadena County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 3 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| US-10 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wadena County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 71 | 11 |
| Usth 10 | 8 |
| Ash Ave | 5 |
| Hwy | 4 |
| Jefferson St | 4 |
| Aspen Ave | 3 |
| Csah 23 | 3 |
| Main St | 3 |
Leaf River at a glance
| Population | 491 |
| Land area | 35.2 sq mi |
| Density | 14 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56482) | $64,439 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56482) | $171,080 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wadena 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 | 3 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +113% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 6 | +16% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 5 | -23% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Leaf River
How many truck crashes happen in Leaf River?
Since 2015, 70 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wadena County (39 injured, 7 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Leaf River?
Since 2015, US-71 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Leaf River: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Leaf River?
March has the most truck crashes in Wadena County, 18.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Leaf River?
Since 2015, Wadena County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Leaf River compare with Minnesota?
Wadena County records 42.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Leaf River?
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.