Washington County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington 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
7.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Minnesota
Washington County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 25% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 43% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 24% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.6% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.2% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.3% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Washington County has lower values than Minnesota for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Minnesota on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Washington County: SR-36 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes in Washington County since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 976 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 288 people and killed 17.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 12.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 49.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-36 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come I-94 (2), SR-95 (2) and CR-13 Manning Tr N (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
29 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.0% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Their busiest month is May, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 7.1, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Washington County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-36, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Washington County) |
|---|---|
| SR-36 | 3 |
| I-94 | 2 |
| SR-95 | 2 |
| CR-13 Manning Tr N | 1 |
| CR-15 Manning Ave N | 1 |
| CR-38A Maxwell Ave | 1 |
| CR-4 170Th St N | 1 |
| I-494 | 1 |
| Irish Ave N | 1 |
| Mu-Autumn Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 176 |
| Isth 694 | 98 |
| Isth 494 | 55 |
| Usth 61 | 49 |
| Mnth 36 | 28 |
| Manning Ave | 16 |
| Saint Croix Tr | 12 |
| Hwy | 11 |
Washington County at a glance
| Population | 283,960 |
| Land area | 384.8 sq mi |
| Density | 738 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $121,097 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 12 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 74 | +534% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 82 | +11% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 79 | -4% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 79. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Washington County
ZIP codes in Washington County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Washington County
How common are truck crashes in Washington County?
Since 2015, 976 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (288 injured, 17 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Washington County?
NHTSA data shows SR-36 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Washington County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Washington County?
Truck crashes in Washington County peak in January, with 12.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Washington County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 29 reported crashes in Washington County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Washington County compare with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 29.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Washington County?
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.