A 15-mile stretch of Interstate 94 running through Camden, central Minneapolis, and central Saint Paul has been identified as the deadliest road segment in Minnesota, recording 16 fatal crashes and 17 fatalities over five years. The findings come from a new study by Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC, in partnership with iLawyerMarketing a Law Firm GEO Agency which analyzed Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering 2020 through 2024.
Key Findings
- The single deadliest 15-mile stretch, located on Interstate 94 through the Twin Cities metro, recorded 16 fatal crashes and 17 fatalities between 2020 and 2024.
- A 15-mile stretch of Interstate 35W cutting through the Minneapolis metro core ranked second, with 14 fatal crashes and 17 fatalities, tying I-94 for the highest total fatality count.
- Interstate 94 accounted for four of the top ten deadliest road stretches statewide; Interstate 35 accounted for another four.
- Hennepin County was the primary county for roughly one-third of the deadliest stretches identified statewide.
- A stretch of Interstate 694 along the northern Twin Cities suburbs in Ramsey County ranked third, with 11 fatal crashes and 12 fatalities.
The data points to a sharp concentration of fatal crash activity within the Twin Cities metropolitan area, where heavy commuter volume, complex interchanges, and high-speed merging zones intersect with the daily flow of regional and interstate traffic.
"The clustering of fatal crashes within a small number of metro corridors suggests these are not random tragedies; they are predictable patterns tied to specific infrastructure and traffic conditions," said a Senior Research Strategist with the study team. "When more than a third of the deadliest stretches in a state of this size sit inside one county, it tells you where engineering reviews, enforcement, and driver education should be focused."
The Bigger Picture
Minnesota averages a significant share of its annual traffic fatalities during the summer months, a period the state has historically labeled the "100 deadliest days." The new analysis adds geographic specificity to that broader pattern, identifying the exact corridors where fatal crash density is highest. With Interstate 94 and Interstate 35 carrying both metro commuter traffic and long-distance freight, the findings raise questions about whether current safety investments are appropriately matched to where deaths are actually occurring. The data also underscores a divergence from past studies that focused on rural highways such as US-169 and Highway 14, indicating that interstate corridors through dense urban areas now warrant equal scrutiny.
Methodology
Researchers analyzed Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covering the most recent five-year window of 2020 through 2024. Using crash coordinates, the team applied a rolling-window approach to identify the 15-mile road segments with the highest concentration of fatal crashes statewide, then continued the process to produce a top ranking. Full methodology and the interactive map of identified stretches are available at the original report: https://www.goldenberglaw.com/the-deadliest-road-stretches-in-minnesota/
About Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC
Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC is a Minneapolis personal injury law firm with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries, car accidents, wrongful death, and complex medical negligence claims. The firm serves clients throughout Minnesota and nationally.
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