US 61 in Minnesota: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 54 fatal crashes on US 61 in Minnesota killed 62 people, the 8th most of 128 numbered roads in Minnesota. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of Minnesota. All fatal crashes in Minnesota.
Deaths on US 61 in Minnesota by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 | 6 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 61 in Minnesota: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Ramsey County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. Ramsey, Washington and Winona counties together held 63% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Minnesota from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 96%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramsey County | 3 | 12 | 13 |
| 2 | Washington County | 1 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Winona County | 1 | 11 | 13 |
| 4 | Wabasha County | 0 | 11 | 12 |
| 5 | Goodhue County | 0 | 7 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 61 in Minnesota
54 fatal crashes on US 61 in 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 midnight to 1 am; the worst month is February.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb16.7%
- Mar3.7%
- Apr3.7%
- May9.3%
- Jun13.0%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep9.3%
- Oct5.6%
- Nov5.6%
- Dec7.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 61 in Minnesota first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 57%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 15%, a rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 31 | 57% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 8 | 15% |
| Rollover | 7 | 13% |
| Other | 3 | 5.6% |
| Pedestrian | 2 | 3.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 3.7% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.9% |
| 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 on US 61 in Minnesota compare with the state
The largest difference from Minnesota: from 2015 to 2024, 35% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Minnesota were on rural roads, against 58% across Minnesota. Also above the Minnesota share: motorcycles. Below it: unbelted occupants. 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 54 crashes.
| US 61 | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 35% | 58% | below the Minnesota share |
| At or near an intersection | 41% | 33% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 19% | 21% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 30% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Speeding | 28% | 27% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 13% | 8.0% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 24% | 38% | below the Minnesota share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 3.3% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 28% | 16% | above the Minnesota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 3.2% | 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 on US 61 in Minnesota
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 61 in Minnesota?
- 54 fatal crashes killed 62 people on US 61 in Minnesota from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 61 in Minnesota do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Ramsey County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. Washington County was second with 11.
Other roads in Minnesota with a page
All fatal crashes in Minnesota, with every road ranked.
Where the US 61 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 61 in Minnesota (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-61", "US-61 FOREST BLVD", "US-61 MAPLEWOOD DR", "US-61 VERMILLION ST"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.