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2003

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 2003

Deaths 655Fatal crashes 583Per 100,000 13.0US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 655 people died in 583 fatal crashes in Minnesota, 13.0 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2002 (657) and 2003 (655).

Minnesota accounted for 1.5% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

41.3% 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 2002 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 2003Minnesota 2002United States 2003
Deaths65565742,884
Fatal crashes58359038,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.013.114.8
Crashes with a drinking driver41%37%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, 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 County57614.8509
Anoka County28338.8200
Ramsey County26305.5225
St. Louis County292914.4183
Washington County18248.5105
Stearns County192112.8122
Wright County192012.991
Scott County141811.479
Sherburne County141514.6108
Olmsted County13159.097
Winona County121530.042
Dakota County14143.1185
Blue Earth County121419.853
Itasca County111328.658
Pine County111239.665
Isanti County91227.563
Cass County111135.067
Crow Wing County111116.071
Goodhue County111122.953
Rice County111115.952
Kandiyohi County101124.659
Carver County9119.861
Nicollet County51131.921
Chisago County101016.965
Otter Tail County101016.464
Morrison County81029.060
Becker County8925.453
Clay County8812.045
Wabasha County6837.133
Freeborn County7723.132
Steele County7718.728
Meeker County6729.825
Renville County6748.430
Douglas County6615.048
Hubbard County6627.224
Todd County6623.126
Beltrami County5612.853
Carlton County4616.344
Faribault County5536.032
Mahnomen County5594.412
Mille Lacs County5518.141
Yellow Medicine County4553.316
Lincoln County3589.95
Aitkin County4424.538
McLeod County4410.940
Mower County449.824
Polk County4413.232
Sibley County4426.322
Wadena County3427.722
Benton County337.246
Brown County3311.719
Dodge County3314.125
Houston County3316.324
Koochiching County3325.917
Lake County3328.019
Watonwan County3326.811
Fillmore County1–2314.027
Jackson County1–2330.417
Kittson County1–2375.23
Lyon County1–2311.725
Murray County1–2337.311
Norman County1–2347.712
Pope County1–2326.112
Roseau County1–2319.712
Clearwater County1–21–2—15
Cottonwood County1–21–2—24
Lac qui Parle County1–21–2—8
Le Sueur County1–21–2—39
Martin County1–21–2—19
Stevens County1–21–2—10
Waseca County1–21–2—12
Wilkin County1–21–2—9
Swift County1–21–2—20
Cook County1–21–2—4
Grant County1–21–2—10
Kanabec County1–21–2—35
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Nobles County1–21–2—24
Pennington County1–21–2—20
Redwood County1–21–2—25

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

12am4.7%
1am5.5%
2am3.5%
3am2.6%
4am2.2%
5am1.9%
6am4%
7am2.9%
8am4.1%
9am3.5%
10am3.1%
11am2.4%
12pm2.4%
1pm4.1%
2pm4%
3pm6.7%
4pm5.2%
5pm6.7%
6pm5.2%
7pm5%
8pm3.8%
9pm6.7%
10pm4.5%
11pm5.2%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 2003?

655 people in 583 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 13.0 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Hennepin County with 61 deaths in 57 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in Minnesota?

655 deaths against 657 in 2002 (0%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.