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1989

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1989

Deaths 604Fatal crashes 538Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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 1989.

In 1989, 604 people died in 538 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll was about level between 1988 (612) and 1989 (604).

Minnesota accounted for 1.3% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

43.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1988 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1989Minnesota 1988United States 1989
Deaths60461245,582
Fatal crashes53854340,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver43%42%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 77 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County69725.7509
Ramsey County33366.6225
St. Louis County273115.4183
Dakota County27286.2185
Anoka County24287.4200
Washington County19207.0105
Chisago County131423.765
Wright County12149.191
Renville County111496.930
Scott County13138.379
Otter Tail County121321.464
Goodhue County101122.953
Clay County91116.545
Sherburne County91110.7108
Carver County7119.861
Nicollet County91029.021
Stearns County995.5122
Itasca County7919.858
Pine County6929.765
Le Sueur County7827.239
Olmsted County784.897
Polk County7826.332
Crow Wing County6811.771
Winona County6816.042
Carlton County7719.144
Fillmore County6732.627
Meeker County6729.825
Kandiyohi County5715.759
Waseca County5737.512
Benton County6614.346
Blue Earth County668.553
Aitkin County5636.738
Cass County5619.167
Lake County5656.119
Pipestone County5665.910
Murray County3674.611
Roseau County1–2639.312
Faribault County5536.032
Freeborn County5516.532
McLeod County5513.640
Marshall County5557.014
Mille Lacs County5518.141
Mower County5512.224
Rice County557.252
Stevens County3550.910
Chippewa County4432.519
Dodge County4418.825
Houston County4421.824
Hubbard County4418.124
Morrison County3411.660
Becker County338.553
Isanti County336.963
Koochiching County3325.917
Lac qui Parle County3345.28
Red Lake County3377.34
Redwood County3319.725
Steele County338.028
Swift County3331.020
Todd County3311.626
Wabasha County3313.933
Yellow Medicine County3332.016
Cottonwood County1–21–2—24
Douglas County1–21–2—48
Grant County1–21–2—10
Rock County1–21–2—12
Sibley County1–21–2—22
Wadena County1–21–2—22
Wilkin County1–21–2—9
Big Stone County1–21–2—6
Brown County1–21–2—19
Kanabec County1–21–2—35
Kittson County1–21–2—3
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Lyon County1–21–2—25
Martin County1–21–2—19
Norman County1–21–2—12
Pennington 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

12am3%
1am8.5%
2am3.2%
3am2.1%
4am1.1%
5am0.9%
6am3.2%
7am1.5%
8am2.5%
9am3.6%
10am3.2%
11am1.7%
12pm4.3%
1pm2.8%
2pm6.2%
3pm6.2%
4pm6.8%
5pm8.3%
6pm4.5%
7pm4.3%
8pm5.3%
9pm7.6%
10pm3.2%
11pm5.7%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday11%
Friday17%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1989?

604 people in 538 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Hennepin County with 72 deaths in 69 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in Minnesota?

604 deaths against 612 in 1988 (+-1%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 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.