Fatal crashes in Stearns County, Minnesota
In 2024, 12 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Stearns County, Minnesota, down from 16 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 114 fatal crashes and 122 deaths, the 6th most of 87 counties in Minnesota.
7.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota in 2024; 7.6 against 7.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 163,997, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Minnesota.
Deaths in Stearns County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 12 |
| 2023 | 14 | 16 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021 | 18 | 18 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 13 | 16 |
| 2017 | 13 | 13 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 12 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Stearns County
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Stearns County from 2015 to 2024: 14, with 16 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 34% of all fatal crashes in Stearns County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 2 state highways. 39% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 61% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | 14 | 16 | 4 | |
| 2 | State Highway 23 | 11 | 11 | 2 | |
| 3 | State Highway 15 | 8 | 8 | 2 | no page |
| 4 | US 71 | 6 | 8 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: St. Cloud 9, St Cloud 7. 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 Stearns County
113 fatal crashes in Stearns 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 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb4.4%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr3.5%
- May11.4%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul10.5%
- Aug13.2%
- Sep6.1%
- Oct7.9%
- Nov12.3%
- Dec7.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Stearns County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 29%, a rollover in 11%, a pedestrian in 7.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 55 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 33 | 29% |
| Rollover | 13 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 7.9% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 2.6% |
| Other | 1 | 0.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 Stearns County compare with Minnesota
The largest difference from Minnesota: from 2015 to 2024, 70% of fatal crashes in Stearns County were on rural roads, against 58% across Minnesota. 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 114 crashes.
| Stearns | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 70% | 58% | above the Minnesota share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 33% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 21% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A drinking driver | 31% | 30% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Speeding | 32% | 27% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 8.0% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 38% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.8% | 3.3% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 16% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.2% | 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 Stearns County, Minnesota
- How many people died in car accidents in Stearns County in 2024?
- 12 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Stearns County, Minnesota, in 2024, down from 16 in 2023. That is 7.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Stearns County?
- I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Stearns County from 2015 to 2024: 14, with 16 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Stearns County involved a drinking driver?
- 35 of 114 fatal crashes in Stearns County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 31%, against 30% across Minnesota.
Other counties in Minnesota with a page
- Hennepin County
- Ramsey County
- Anoka County
- St. Louis County
- Dakota County
- Washington County
- Sherburne County
- Olmsted County
- Wright County
- Scott County
- Crow Wing County
- Cass County
All fatal crashes in Minnesota, with every county ranked.
Where the Stearns County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Stearns County (county code 145). 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/stearns-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”