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1988

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1988

Deaths 612Fatal crashes 543Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,087

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 1988.

In 1988, 612 people died in 543 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll rose 15% from 530 in 1987 to 612 in 1988.

Minnesota accounted for 1.3% of the 47,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

42.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1987 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1988Minnesota 1987United States 1988
Deaths61253047,087
Fatal crashes54346642,130
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver42%41%40%

Counties in 1988

Every county with a fatal crash in 1988, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 80 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County81917.1509
St. Louis County242914.4183
Wright County272818.191
Ramsey County23244.4225
Dakota County21235.1185
Anoka County15195.0200
Stearns County14169.8122
Carver County141412.461
Washington County13144.9105
Todd County111453.926
Douglas County91435.148
Polk County111239.532
Crow Wing County111116.071
Goodhue County111122.953
Rice County91115.952
Olmsted County10106.097
Renville County91069.230
Scott County9106.479
Kandiyohi County81022.459
Fillmore County71046.527
Freeborn County51033.032
Becker County9925.453
McLeod County8924.540
Clay County7913.545
Cass County8825.467
Wabasha County8837.133
Itasca County6817.658
Otter Tail County7711.564
Pine County7723.165
Sherburne County776.8108
Winona County7714.042
Dodge County6733.025
Blue Earth County668.553
Brown County5623.319
Carlton County5616.344
Morrison County4617.460
Meeker County3625.525
Beltrami County5510.753
Chisago County558.565
Le Sueur County5517.039
Mahnomen County5594.412
Mille Lacs County5518.141
Houston County4527.224
Nicollet County4514.521
Pipestone County4554.910
Benton County449.646
Nobles County4418.224
Redwood County4426.225
Jackson County1–2440.617
Chippewa County3324.419
Isanti County336.963
Lyon County3311.725
Mower County337.324
Steele County338.028
Faribault County1–21–2—32
Lincoln County1–21–2—5
Martin County1–21–2—19
Pennington County1–21–2—20
Rock County1–21–2—12
Wilkin County1–21–2—9
Kanabec County1–21–2—35
Lac qui Parle County1–21–2—8
Aitkin County1–21–2—38
Big Stone County1–21–2—6
Clearwater County1–21–2—15
Cook County1–21–2—4
Cottonwood County1–21–2—24
Koochiching County1–21–2—17
Lake County1–21–2—19
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Marshall County1–21–2—14
Norman County1–21–2—12
Pope County1–21–2—12
Red Lake County1–21–2—4
Roseau County1–21–2—12
Sibley County1–21–2—22
Stevens County1–21–2—10
Swift County1–21–2—20
Traverse County1–21–2—3
Yellow Medicine County1–21–2—16

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

12am5.1%
1am6.6%
2am4.1%
3am2.2%
4am1.3%
5am1.3%
6am4.1%
7am3.6%
8am3.4%
9am1.7%
10am3.2%
11am3.4%
12pm3.7%
1pm4.1%
2pm4.9%
3pm4.7%
4pm6.9%
5pm5.6%
6pm5.2%
7pm5.6%
8pm4.9%
9pm5.6%
10pm4.9%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday17%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1988?

612 people in 543 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1988 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1988?

Hennepin County with 91 deaths in 81 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1988 compare with 1987 in Minnesota?

612 deaths against 530 in 1987 (+15%). Nationally the 1988 total was 47,087.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1988 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.