Fatal crashes in South Dakota
In 2024, 146 people died in 134 fatal crashes on South Dakota roads, 4.3% more than in 2023. That is 0.4% of all road deaths in the United States.
South Dakota ranks 42nd of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 11th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in South Dakota since 1975
Road deaths in South Dakota peaked in 1980 at 228; 2024's 146 is 36% below that. The lowest year was 2019 with 102. 2024 is 16% below 2000 and 25% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 146 | 134 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 140 | 128 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 137 | 121 | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 148 | 131 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 141 | 132 | +38.2% |
| 2019 | 102 | 88 | -21.5% |
| 2018 | 130 | 110 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 129 | 111 | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 116 | 103 | -13.4% |
| 2015 | 134 | 116 | -1.5% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 136 | 125 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 135 | 121 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 133 | 118 | +19.8% |
| 2011 | 111 | 101 | -20.7% |
| 2010 | 140 | 124 | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 131 | 112 | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 121 | 109 | -17.1% |
| 2007 | 146 | 130 | -23.6% |
| 2006 | 191 | 172 | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 186 | 158 | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 197 | 166 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 203 | 173 | +12.8% |
| 2002 | 180 | 159 | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 171 | 154 | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 173 | 150 | +15.3% |
| 1999 | 150 | 136 | -9.1% |
| 1998 | 165 | 149 | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 148 | 128 | -15.4% |
| 1996 | 175 | 142 | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 158 | 140 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 154 | 141 | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 140 | 118 | -13.0% |
| 1992 | 161 | 141 | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 143 | 130 | -6.5% |
| 1990 | 153 | 139 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 152 | 134 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 147 | 127 | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 134 | 107 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 134 | 118 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 130 | 109 | -9.1% |
| 1984 | 143 | 132 | -18.3% |
| 1983 | 175 | 147 | +18.2% |
| 1982 | 148 | 129 | -16.4% |
| 1981 | 177 | 162 | -22.4% |
| 1980 | 228 | 188 | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 211 | 169 | +10.5% |
| 1978 | 191 | 165 | -8.2% |
| 1977 | 208 | 179 | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 219 | 185 | +12.3% |
| 1975 | 195 | 160 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in South Dakota
I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 107, with 122 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 46% of all fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 9 US routes, 9 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (8 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in South Dakota, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-90 | 107 | 122 | 42 | Pennington, Minnehaha, Meade |
| 2 | US 18 | 53 | 65 | 19 | Shannon, Fall River, Lincoln |
| 3 | I-29 | 49 | 51 | 17 | Union, Minnehaha, Lincoln |
| 4 | US 14 | 34 | 37 | 15 | Lawrence, Brookings, Beadle |
| 5 | US 212 | 29 | 31 | 5 | Codington, Dewey, Butte |
| 6 | State Highway 44 | 27 | 33 | 7 | Pennington, Hutchinson, Jackson |
| 7 | US 12 | 26 | 32 | 6 | Edmunds, Corson, Brown |
| 8 | State Highway 34 | 24 | 28 | 9 | Meade, Haakon, Lawrence |
| 9 | US 16 | 24 | 25 | 6 | Pennington, Custer |
| 10 | State Highway 37 | 20 | 25 | 8 | Hutchinson, Brown, Bon Homme |
| 11 | State Highway 79 | 19 | 21 | 5 | Meade, Custer, Pennington |
| 12 | State Highway 50 | 17 | 26 | 5 | Yankton, Bon Homme, Clay |
| 13 | US 14A | 17 | 18 | 0 | Lawrence, Brookings |
| 14 | US 385 | 16 | 17 | 5 | Pennington, Lawrence, Custer |
| 15 | State Highway 42 | 15 | 19 | 5 | Minnehaha, McCook, Hanson |
| 16 | US 81 | 15 | 19 | 3 | Yankton, Hamlin, Hutchinson |
| 17 | US 85 | 15 | 15 | 3 | Lawrence, Harding, Butte |
| 18 | State Highway 20 | 13 | 14 | 6 | Codington, Spink, Grant |
| 19 | State Highway 19 | 12 | 12 | 3 | Turner, Clay, Minnehaha |
| 20 | State Highway 46 | 11 | 15 | 8 | Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Union |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in South Dakota as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/south-dakota/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in South Dakota
Pennington County had the most fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 135, with 141 deaths. Pennington, Minnehaha and Lawrence counties together held 29% of fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 68%. 67 counties in South Dakota recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Lawrence County has the highest rate in South Dakota: 30.4 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 14.9 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennington County | 11 | 135 | 141 | 10.3 |
| 2 | Minnehaha County | 14 | 133 | 149 | 7.7 |
| 3 | Lawrence County | 10 | 75 | 80 | 38.2 |
| 4 | Lincoln County | 7 | 50 | 56 | Not enough data |
| 5 | Shannon County | 0 | 45 | 63 | No data |
| 6 | Meade County | 7 | 42 | 43 | Not enough data |
| 7 | Codington County | 5 | 30 | 31 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Yankton County | 4 | 29 | 38 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Custer County | 2 | 27 | 31 | Not enough data |
| 10 | Roberts County | 2 | 26 | 30 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Brown County | 2 | 24 | 26 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Charles Mix County | 8 | 23 | 27 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Jackson County | 3 | 22 | 30 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Brookings County | 2 | 22 | 24 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Fall River County | 4 | 21 | 25 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Hutchinson County | 3 | 18 | 25 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Beadle County | 4 | 18 | 22 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Turner County | 0 | 18 | 19 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Union County | 2 | 18 | 18 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Lyman County | 4 | 17 | 21 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/south-dakota/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in South Dakota
The heaviest slot is Friday, noon to 4 pm, with 58 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 31 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.5 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.5%
- Feb5.2%
- Mar6.2%
- Apr7.0%
- May7.7%
- Jun7.8%
- Jul11.0%
- Aug14.8%
- Sep9.8%
- Oct10.4%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec6.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in South Dakota: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
82% of fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 19% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 31% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%; most, 57%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| South Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 82% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 57% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 5.6% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on South Dakota roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 69% of the 146 people killed on South Dakota roads in 2024; motorcyclists 23% (33), pedestrians 6.2% (9), cyclists 2.7% (4).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 100 | 69% |
| Motorcyclists | 33 | 23% |
| Pedestrians | 9 | 6.2% |
| Cyclists | 4 | 2.7% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 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 happen in South Dakota: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 35% of fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 27%, about the US share; a hit-and-run in 1.8%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 5.9%, below the US share of 8.7%; 66% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (826 in South Dakota).
| South Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 35% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 27% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.9% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 66% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.8% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a rollover in 27%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a pedestrian in 8.0%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 441 | 38% |
| Rollover | 320 | 27% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 244 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 94 | 8.0% |
| Other | 61 | 5.2% |
| Cyclist | 9 | 0.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 0.4% |
| 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
Vehicles in fatal crashes in South Dakota
Cars were 26% of the 1,634 vehicles in fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024, pickups 22%, SUVs 19%, motorcycles 15%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 428 | 26% |
| Pickups | 364 | 22% |
| SUVs | 306 | 19% |
| Motorcycles | 244 | 15% |
| Truck-tractors | 122 | 7.5% |
| Other trucks | 85 | 5.2% |
| Vans | 81 | 5.0% |
| Buses | 4 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in South Dakota per resident and per mile driven
| South Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 15.8 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 14.9 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.40 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 924,669 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 10,450 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in South Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in South Dakota in 2024?
- 146 people died in 134 fatal crashes on South Dakota roads in 2024, 4.3% more than in 2023. That is 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in South Dakota?
- I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 107, with 122 deaths. US 18 was second with 53.
- Which county in South Dakota has the most fatal crashes?
- Pennington County, with 135 fatal crashes and 141 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 11 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in South Dakota happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, noon to 4 pm, with 58 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in South Dakota involved a drinking driver?
- 410 of 1,174 fatal crashes in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 35%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for South Dakota
Every county in South Dakota with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
Road pages for South Dakota
Every numbered road in South Dakota with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the South Dakota numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.