Fatal crashes in Olmsted County, Minnesota
In 2024, 11 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Olmsted County, Minnesota, up from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 89 fatal crashes and 97 deaths, the 9th most of 87 counties in Minnesota.
6.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota in 2024; 6.1 against 7.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 166,424, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Minnesota.
Deaths in Olmsted County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 11 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 12 | 13 |
| 2019 | 10 | 16 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 11 | 12 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Olmsted County
US 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Olmsted County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 13 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 40% of all fatal crashes in Olmsted County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 3 US routes, 1 state highway. 45% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 55% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 14 | 13 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 2 | US 52 | 7 | 7 | 1 | no page |
| 3 | I-90 | 6 | 11 | 2 | |
| 4 | State Highway 30 | 5 | 5 | 3 | no page |
| 5 | US 63 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
Rochester had 30% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 27 of 89.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Rochester 27. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Olmsted County
89 fatal crashes in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.4%
- Feb2.2%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr7.9%
- May10.1%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug12.4%
- Sep11.2%
- Oct4.5%
- Nov11.2%
- Dec13.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Olmsted County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 63%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 12%, a pedestrian in 10%, a rollover in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 56 | 63% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 10% |
| Other | 5 | 5.6% |
| Rollover | 4 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 3.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Olmsted County compare with Minnesota
The largest difference from Minnesota: from 2015 to 2024, 25% of occupants killed in Olmsted County were unbelted, against 38% across Minnesota. Also above the Minnesota share: intersections. Below it: drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Minnesota. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 89 crashes.
| Olmsted | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 51% | 58% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| At or near an intersection | 44% | 33% | above the Minnesota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 21% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 30% | below the Minnesota share |
| Speeding | 25% | 27% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.0% | 8.0% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 25% | 38% | below the Minnesota share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.1% | 3.3% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 16% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 11% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Olmsted County, Minnesota
- How many people died in car accidents in Olmsted County in 2024?
- 11 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Olmsted County, Minnesota, in 2024, up from 5 in 2023. That is 6.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Olmsted County?
- US 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Olmsted County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 13 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Olmsted County involved a drinking driver?
- 18 of 89 fatal crashes in Olmsted County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 20%, against 30% across Minnesota.
Other counties in Minnesota with a page
- Hennepin County
- Ramsey County
- Anoka County
- St. Louis County
- Dakota County
- Stearns County
- Washington County
- Sherburne County
- Wright County
- Scott County
- Crow Wing County
- Cass County
All fatal crashes in Minnesota, with every county ranked.
Where the Olmsted County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Olmsted County (county code 109). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/minnesota/olmsted-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”