ZIP 55042 (Lake Elmo, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 55042: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Washington County, 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 sits below Minnesota on 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.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.1% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.3% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 55042 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-94 (3), SR-36 (3), CR-15 Manning Ave N (1), CR-38A Maxwell Ave (1) and CR-65 N White Bear Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 29 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 7.1, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 55042 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 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 |
| CR-15 Manning Ave N | 1 |
| CR-38A Maxwell Ave | 1 |
| CR-65 N White Bear Ave | 1 |
| I-494 | 1 |
| Mu-Autumn Dr | 1 |
| Mu-William St N | 1 |
| SR-95 | 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 |
ZIP 55042 at a glance
| Population | 13,705 |
| Density | 213 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $154,341 |
| Median home value | $588,128 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 55042
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 55042?
Since 2015, 976 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (288 injured, 17 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 55042?
January has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 12.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 55042?
29 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 55042 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.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 55042?
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.