Minnesota Truck Crashes, Fatalities Drop

Crashes involving trucks in Minnesota declined 4% in 2011 compared with 2010 and the number of fatalities dropped 45%, according to the latest annual truck crash report released this month by the state’s Department of Public Safety.

There were 4,025 crashes involving trucks in 2011 compared with 4,181 in 2010. Fatalities totaled 51, down from 93 a year ago, the report said.

Since 2001, the number of truck-related crashes involving a fatality has dropped 37%, said the Minnesota Trucking Association.

“We are glad to see the numbers heading in the right direction," MTA President John Hausladen said in a statement.

“This success is due to the cooperative efforts of the trucking industry, law enforcement and passenger vehicle groups working to educate everyone on how to safely share the road,” he said.

Click here to see the report. (Minn. DOT website.)