Lake Elmo, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lake Elmo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lake Elmo and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
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 stands out for higher garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for Washington County: January 12.1% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
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.
Lake Elmo had 59 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Washington County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.1% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 49.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, 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
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Lake Elmo since 2015: I-94 (3), SR-36 (3), I-494 (2), CR-15 Manning Ave N (1) and CR-38A Maxwell Ave (1). No single road stands out.
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.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 7.1 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Lake Elmo fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 3 |
| SR-36 | 3 |
| I-494 | 2 |
| CR-15 Manning Ave N | 1 |
| CR-38A Maxwell Ave | 1 |
| CR-65 N White Bear Ave | 1 |
| E Oaks Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Autumn Dr | 1 |
| Mu-William St N | 1 |
| SR-5 | 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 |
Lake Elmo at a glance
| Population | 14,161 |
| Land area | 22.1 sq mi |
| Density | 641 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55042) | $154,341 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55042) | $588,128 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 a year in the 1990s and 79 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lake Elmo
How many truck accidents are there in Lake Elmo?
976 truck crashes have been reported in Washington County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 288 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Lake Elmo?
The worst month is January: 12.1% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Lake Elmo?
29 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Lake Elmo compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 29.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Lake Elmo?
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.