Shell Lake, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Shell Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Shell Lake and Washburn County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washburn County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 90 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washburn County compares with Wisconsin
Washburn County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washburn County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washburn County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.9 | 42.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.8% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.7% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.9% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.7% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.7% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Wisconsin, Washburn County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Washburn County: 1 in 20 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.9%, against 2.7% for Wisconsin.
Overview
Washburn County has recorded 90 truck crashes since 2015, with 49 people injured and 5 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 49 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Shell Lake since 2015, this page uses Washburn County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 15.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 3.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.7% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 11.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Shell Lake happened on US-53 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.6% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for Shell Lake fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 31.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Wisconsin; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 15.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Wisconsin; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Washburn County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-53 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washburn County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 053 | 36 |
| Ush 063 | 15 |
| Sth 070 | 6 |
| Sth 077 | 3 |
| Cth | 2 |
| Cth K | 2 |
| SR-063 | 2 |
| Bear Lake Rd | 1 |
Shell Lake at a glance
| Population | 1,393 |
| Land area | 5.8 sq mi |
| Density | 238 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54871) | $69,342 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54871) | $245,833 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washburn 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 10 | +61% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 6 | -46% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 8 | +49% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 8. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Shell Lake
How many truck accidents are there in Shell Lake?
Since 2015, 90 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washburn County (49 injured, 5 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Shell Lake?
October has the most truck crashes in Washburn County, 15.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Shell Lake?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Washburn County since 2015 (5.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Shell Lake compared with Wisconsin?
The yearly rate is 43.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washburn County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Shell Lake?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.