Prairie Lake, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Prairie Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Prairie Lake and Barron County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Barron County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 204 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Barron County compares with Wisconsin
Barron County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Barron County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Barron County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.8 | 42.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.4% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 26.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.9% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.3% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Barron County has lower values than Wisconsin for injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Barron County at a glance: 8.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Wisconsin: 3.4).
Overview
Police reported 204 crashes involving commercial trucks in Barron County since 2015: 81 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Prairie Lake since 2015, this page uses Barron County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 11.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 20.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-8 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come US-53 (2) and CR-I 6Th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Prairie Lake fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-8 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.4% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Barron County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-8 | 5 |
| US-53 | 2 |
| CR-I 6Th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Barron County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 008 | 37 |
| Ush 053 | 37 |
| Ush 063 | 9 |
| Sth 048 | 7 |
| Cth P | 7 |
| Cth Ss | 6 |
| 23Rd St | 5 |
| Cth I | 5 |
Prairie Lake at a glance
| Population | 1,679 |
| Land area | 33.2 sq mi |
| Density | 51 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54822) | $70,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54822) | $234,708 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Barron 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 | 16 | -17% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 21 | +38% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 17 | -19% | 1.2 |
In the 1990s about 19 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 17. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Prairie Lake
How many truck crashes happen in Prairie Lake?
Barron County has had 204 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 81 people and killing 16.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Prairie Lake?
US-8 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Prairie Lake since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Prairie Lake?
Truck crashes in Barron County peak in October, with 12.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Prairie Lake?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Barron County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does Prairie Lake compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 40.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Barron County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Prairie Lake?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.