ZIP 55609 (Knife River, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 55609: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lake 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
2 of 48 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Minnesota
Lake County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.5% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 34.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 65.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Lake County sits below Minnesota on morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It runs above Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Lake County at a glance: December the month with the most truck crashes: 20.8% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 48 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lake County. They injured 19 people and killed 2.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 91 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 20.8% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 65.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (14.6%).
Road surface: 45.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 55609 happened on CR-2 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 55609 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 45.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 61 | 18 |
| 11Th St | 2 |
| Csah 2 | 2 |
| Hwy | 2 |
| National Forest Hwy 7 | 2 |
| National Forest Hwy 9 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| 23Rd Ave | 1 |
ZIP 55609 at a glance
| Population | 131 |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,208 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 2 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +275% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 4 | -30% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 4 | -11% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 4 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 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 55609
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 55609?
48 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 55609?
The worst month is December: 20.8% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 55609?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 55609 compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 37.4 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 55609?
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.