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1986

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1986

Deaths 571Fatal crashes 505Per 100,000 —US deaths 46,087

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. Final FARS file for 1986.

In 1986, 571 people died in 505 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll fell 6% from 608 in 1985 to 571 in 1986.

Minnesota accounted for 1.2% of the 46,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

29% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1985 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1986Minnesota 1985United States 1986
Deaths57160846,087
Fatal crashes50553641,090
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%41%43%

Counties in 1986

Every county with a fatal crash in 1986, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 79 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County67735.7509
Ramsey County39407.4225
St. Louis County222512.5183
Anoka County20215.6200
Dakota County17184.0185
Wright County141610.391
Sherburne County131615.5108
Otter Tail County131524.664
Scott County14148.979
Olmsted County11137.897
Wabasha County81360.333
Crow Wing County91116.071
Carver County8119.861
Douglas County81127.548
Benton County61023.946
Morrison County6926.160
Becker County8822.653
Pine County8826.465
Beltrami County6817.153
Blue Earth County779.953
Cass County7722.367
Dodge County6733.025
Mille Lacs County6725.441
Polk County6723.032
Chisago County6610.265
Steele County6616.028
Washington County662.1105
Faribault County5643.232
Isanti County5613.763
Itasca County5613.258
Stearns County563.7122
Pipestone County1–2665.910
Kanabec County5530.135
Le Sueur County5517.039
Lyon County5519.525
Nicollet County5514.521
Marshall County4557.014
Meeker County4521.325
Rice County457.252
Carlton County4410.944
Clay County446.045
Freeborn County4413.232
McLeod County4410.940
Pennington County4429.320
Renville County4427.730
Waseca County4421.412
Cook County3471.84
Goodhue County348.353
Kandiyohi County349.059
Nobles County3418.224
Winona County348.042
Chippewa County1–2432.519
Brown County3311.719
Grant County3349.110
Hubbard County3313.624
Lac qui Parle County3345.28
Martin County3315.319
Mower County337.324
Murray County3337.311
Redwood County3319.725
Sibley County3319.722
Todd County3311.626
Wadena County3320.822
Red Lake County1–2377.34
Aitkin County1–21–2—38
Fillmore County1–21–2—27
Houston County1–21–2—24
Kittson County1–21–2—3
Koochiching County1–21–2—17
Lincoln County1–21–2—5
Norman County1–21–2—12
Roseau County1–21–2—12
Watonwan County1–21–2—11
Yellow Medicine County1–21–2—16
Jackson County1–21–2—17
Lake County1–21–2—19
Rock County1–21–2—12
Stevens County1–21–2—10
Swift County1–21–2—20

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am9.1%
1am7.5%
2am3.8%
3am1.4%
4am1.6%
5am1.2%
6am3.4%
7am3.4%
8am3.4%
9am2.8%
10am2.2%
11am2.2%
12pm3.4%
1pm4.2%
2pm4.8%
3pm4.8%
4pm4.2%
5pm6.7%
6pm5.3%
7pm6.7%
8pm4%
9pm3.4%
10pm4.6%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday13%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1986?

571 people in 505 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1986 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1986?

Hennepin County with 73 deaths in 67 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1986 compare with 1985 in Minnesota?

571 deaths against 608 in 1985 (+-6%). Nationally the 1986 total was 46,087.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1986 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.