Fatal crashes in Washington County, Minnesota
In 2024, 8 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Washington County, Minnesota, down from 18 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 100 fatal crashes and 105 deaths, the 7th most of 87 counties in Minnesota.
Deaths in Washington County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 8 |
| 2023 | 15 | 18 |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 16 | 16 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 13 | 13 |
| 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 Washington County
US 61 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Washington County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 13 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 35% of all fatal crashes in Washington County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 1 US route, 2 state highways. 46% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 54% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 61 | 11 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2 | State Highway 95 | 9 | 9 | 1 | no page |
| 3 | I-35 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 4 | I-94 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 5 | State Highway 36 | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
Cottage Grove had 10% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 10 of 100.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Cottage Grove 10, Woodbury 10, Forest Lake 9, Oakdale 9, Scandia 5, Lake Elmo 5. 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 Washington County
100 fatal crashes in Washington 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 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is June.
| 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 | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb6.0%
- Mar4.0%
- Apr2.0%
- May7.0%
- Jun19.0%
- Jul8.0%
- Aug9.0%
- Sep11.0%
- Oct13.0%
- Nov5.0%
- Dec9.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Washington 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 22%, a pedestrian in 8.0%, a rollover in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 48 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 22 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 8.0% |
| Rollover | 8 | 8.0% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 6.0% |
| Other | 6 | 6.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.0% |
| 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 Washington County compare with Minnesota
The largest difference from Minnesota: from 2015 to 2024, 25% of fatal crashes in Washington County were on rural roads, against 58% across Minnesota. Also above the Minnesota share: motorcycles. 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 100 crashes.
| Washington | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 25% | 58% | below the Minnesota share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 33% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 15% | 21% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 30% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Speeding | 26% | 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 | 29% | 38% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.0% | 3.3% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 27% | 16% | above the Minnesota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.6% | 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 Washington County, Minnesota
- How many people died in car accidents in Washington County in 2024?
- 8 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Washington County, Minnesota, in 2024, down from 18 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Washington County?
- US 61 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Washington County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 13 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Washington County involved a drinking driver?
- 32 of 100 fatal crashes in Washington County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 32%, against 30% across Minnesota.
Other counties in Minnesota with a page
- Hennepin County
- Ramsey County
- Anoka County
- St. Louis County
- Dakota County
- Stearns 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 Washington County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Washington County (county code 163). 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/washington-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”