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Wabasha County

Residents 21,574Deaths 2024 1–2Deaths 2015–2024 33Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 33 people killed in 31 fatal crashes in Wabasha County, Minnesota, between 2015 and 2024, fewer than three of them in 2024.

With 21,574 residents, that is 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 2.1 times the Minnesota rate of 7.3 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 21% from 42 in 2005–2014 to 33 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 39.4% against 15.5% for Minnesota.

55% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Tuesday was the most common day (23%).

1–2deaths in 20241–2 fatal crashes
17deaths, 2020–202433 over ten years
15.3per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 4.6
+110%vs Minnesota ratestate 7.3 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0713197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 11 deaths1976: 10 deaths1977: 4 deaths1978: 8 deaths1979: 10 deaths1980: 7 deaths1981: 8 deaths1982: 4 deaths1983: 5 deaths1984: 8 deaths1985: 6 deaths1986: 13 deaths1987: 8 deaths1988: 8 deaths1989: 3 deaths1990: 8 deaths1991: 3 deaths1992: 5 deaths1993: 1–2 deaths1994: 6 deaths1995: 4 deaths1996: 1–2 deaths1997: 7 deaths1998: 6 deaths1999: 8 deaths2000: 4 deaths2001: 5 deaths2002: 5 deaths2003: 8 deaths2004: 1–2 deaths2005: 7 deaths2006: 7 deaths2007: 1–2 deaths2008: 3 deaths2009: 4 deaths2010: 1–2 deaths2011: 7 deaths2012: 1–2 deaths2013: 4 deaths2014: 4 deaths2015: 3 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 1–2 deaths2018: 3 deaths2019: 4 deaths2020: 5 deaths2021: 1–2 deaths2022: 6 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 1–2 deaths
People killed in crashes in Wabasha County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 1–2 deaths.

Ten-year total down 21% (42 in 2005–2014, 33 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Minnesota and the nation

MeasureWabashaMinnesotaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202415.37.311.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20244.68.211.5
Deaths, 2015–2024334,111389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024313,788358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-21%-6%+7%
Crashes on rural roads87%58%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 21,574 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking35.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver22.6%
Pedestriansshare of people killed3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed39.4%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used25%
In darknesscrashes after dark16.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads87.1%

tick marks the Minnesota share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Wabasha County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 31 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Tuesday23%
Sunday19%
Friday16%
Saturday16%
Wednesday13%
Monday6%
Thursday6%

Light condition

Daylight81%
Dark, lighted10%
Dark, not lighted6%
Dawn3%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial35%
Minor arterial32%
Local13%
Major collector10%
Minor collector10%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Minnesota share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear71%
Cloudy26%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain3%
Rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Wabasha

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 61US highway11556329%29%
2State Route 60State highway4282821%18%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20241–21–20—MN 2024
202333013.9MN 2023
2022661–227.8MN 2022
20211–21–21–2—MN 2021
202055323.2MN 2020
2019341–218.5MN 2019
20181–23013.9MN 2018
20171–21–21–2—MN 2017
2016441–218.5MN 2016
2015331–213.9MN 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Wabasha County, Minnesota?

fewer than three people died in fewer than three fatal crashes in 2024; 17 over 2020–2024 and 33 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Wabasha compare with Minnesota?

15.3 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 7.3 for Minnesota and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Wabasha involved alcohol?

35.5% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 30.3% in Minnesota. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 39.4%.

Which roads in Wabasha see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 61 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 60 (4 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Wabasha?

Most often between noon to 6pm (55% of crashes) and on Tuesdays (23%); 16.1% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.