Minnesota sees 18 off-highway vehicle deaths so far in 2026
A deadly month on Minnesota’s trails has raised concerns over ATV safety. In October, six off-highway-vehicle related deaths were reported in the state, raising the number of total fatalities to 18 in 2026. “Some are impaired by drugs or alcohol. Some are driving recklessly or too fast for the conditions and a lot of them are just unfamiliar with the trail or the terrain that they’re operating in,” said Derek Peterlin, Conservation Officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Minnesota DNR splits ATVs into two classes: class one machines are 50 inches or less, while class two machines are not more than 65 inches. All off-highway vehicles must be registered. “We do have a private use or agricultural use registration. You only pay for it once, it’s good for as long as you own the machine,” said Peterlin. “If you’re ever going to take it out on public lands, public…
