ZIP 55961 (Ostrander, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 55961: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mower 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
8 of 210 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mower County compares with Minnesota
Mower County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mower County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mower County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.7 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.9% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.5% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.0% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Mower County sits below Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Mower County: July 13.3% of truck crashes happen in July, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mower County. They injured 106 people and killed 7.
That averages about one truck crash every 20 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 3.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.5% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 11.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.9% 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 55961 happened on US-63 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 3.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 55961 fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mower County.
- With 27.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Crash reporting for 2020 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Mower County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mower County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 90 | 53 |
| Usth 218 | 17 |
| Usth 63 | 12 |
| Hwy | 7 |
| Mnth 16 | 7 |
| 590Th Ave | 5 |
| 110Th St | 4 |
| 140Th St | 4 |
ZIP 55961 at a glance
| Population | 520 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $98,214 |
| Median home value | $173,538 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mower 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 | 13 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 20 | +47% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 21 | +8% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 14 | -36% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 13 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 55961
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 55961?
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mower County (106 injured, 7 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 55961?
Truck crashes in Mower County peak in July, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 55961?
Since 2015, Mower County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 55961 compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Mower County records 44.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 55961?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.