Minnesota car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Minnesota by year

Car accident deaths increased from 320 in 2020 to 414 in 2021, then declined to 353 in 2022 and 328 in 2023. The count rose to 392 in 2024. Within this period, 2021 had the highest count and 2020 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 72 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Minnesota accounted for 1.0% of the national car accident death total for 2020 through 2024. Its annual share was 1.0% in 2020, 1.1% in 2021, 1.0% in 2022, 0.9% in 2023 and 1.2% in 2024. The state's share of the U.S. total was highest in 2024 and lowest in 2023.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in Minnesota car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 1,402 deaths, or 77.6% of Minnesota's car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 169 deaths, or 9.4%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 236 deaths, or 13.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is a classification that can include occupants of parked motor vehicles. It should not be interpreted as a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

By manner of collision, car accident deaths numbered 500 for Angle (side impact), 296 for Head-on, 122 for Rear-end and 40 for Sideswipe. Other accounted for 8 deaths and Unknown for 3. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 838 deaths. This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 1,014 deaths (56.1%); nighttime accounted for 792 (43.8%). Urban classifications recorded 800 deaths (44.3%), and rural classifications recorded 998 (55.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Hennepin County had the most car accident deaths in the county table, with 248, followed by Ramsey County with 113 and Anoka County with 91. Dakota County and St. Louis County each recorded 85 deaths. Counts were 51 in Stearns County, 49 in Wright County, 44 in Sherburne County and 40 in Washington County.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The listed counts also include Kandiyohi County with 37 deaths, Olmsted County with 35, Scott County with 34, Cass County with 32, and Clay County and Crow Wing County with 30 each. These are deaths grouped by crash county for 2020 through 2024. Rates are separate: among the listed counties, Cass County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 20.7, while Washington County had the lowest at 2.9.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How Minnesota compares with the national rate

Minnesota's car accident death rate was 6.3 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024, compared with the national rate of 10.5. The state rate was lower than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 1,807 in Minnesota and 176,219 across the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Each rate uses deaths during the period divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, then multiplied by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Minnesota's separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 5,797,405 is not the denominator. When reading these car accident figures alongside a search for a car accident lawyer, keep their grouping by crash location in mind.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes is FARS. For inclusion, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant death occurring within 30 days. Neither nonfatal crashes nor injuries are included. Counts for states and counties are assigned according to the crash location rather than the deceased person's residence.^[8][6][7]

Records for 2020 through 2023 use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Hennepin County, Minnesota (2020-2024)