Fatal crashes in Dakota County, Minnesota
In 2024, 23 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Dakota County, Minnesota, up from 16 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 167 fatal crashes and 185 deaths, the 4th most of 87 counties in Minnesota.
5.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota in 2024; 4.3 against 7.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 453,156, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Minnesota.
Deaths in Dakota County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 23 |
| 2023 | 16 | 16 |
| 2022 | 24 | 24 |
| 2021 | 16 | 18 |
| 2020 | 15 | 17 |
| 2019 | 17 | 20 |
| 2018 | 15 | 17 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 24 | 28 |
| 2015 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Dakota County
State Highway 55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dakota County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths. The 7 roads listed held 31% of all fatal crashes in Dakota County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 1 US route, 3 state highways. 46% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 54% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 55 | 13 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2 | State Highway 13 | 9 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 3 | State Highway 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | no page |
| 4 | US 52 | 7 | 7 | 3 | no page |
| 5 | I-35W | 6 | 6 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | I-35 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 7 | I-494 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
Burnsville had 16% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 27 of 167.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Burnsville 27, Inver Grove Heights 22, Eagan 20, Lakeville 13, Rosemount 10, Apple Valley 8, Mendota Heights 6, South St Paul 6. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Dakota County
167 fatal crashes in Dakota County, Minnesota from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.4%
- Feb7.2%
- Mar6.6%
- Apr7.8%
- May7.8%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug9.0%
- Sep9.6%
- Oct10.8%
- Nov6.6%
- Dec9.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Dakota County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 47%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a pedestrian in 17%, a rollover in 9.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 78 | 47% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 35 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 28 | 17% |
| Rollover | 15 | 9.0% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 2.4% |
| Other | 4 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 1.8% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Dakota County compare with Minnesota
The largest difference from Minnesota: from 2015 to 2024, 27% of fatal crashes in Dakota County were on rural roads, against 58% across Minnesota. Also above the Minnesota share: intersections and pedestrians. Below it: drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Minnesota. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 167 crashes.
| Dakota | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 27% | 58% | below the Minnesota share |
| At or near an intersection | 41% | 33% | above the Minnesota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 15% | 21% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 30% | below the Minnesota share |
| Speeding | 31% | 27% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.0% | 8.0% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 32% | 38% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.0% | 3.3% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 16% | about the same as the Minnesota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 11% | above the Minnesota share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Dakota County, Minnesota
- How many people died in car accidents in Dakota County in 2024?
- 23 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Dakota County, Minnesota, in 2024, up from 16 in 2023. That is 5.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.2 across Minnesota. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Dakota County?
- State Highway 55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dakota County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Dakota County involved a drinking driver?
- 37 of 167 fatal crashes in Dakota County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 22%, against 30% across Minnesota.
Other counties in Minnesota with a page
- Hennepin County
- Ramsey County
- Anoka County
- St. Louis County
- Stearns County
- Washington County
- Sherburne County
- Olmsted County
- Wright County
- Scott County
- Crow Wing County
- Cass County
All fatal crashes in Minnesota, with every county ranked.
Where the Dakota County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Dakota County (county code 37). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/minnesota/dakota-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”