Fatal crashes in Meade County, South Dakota
In 2024, 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Meade County, South Dakota, up from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 42 fatal crashes and 43 deaths, the 6th most of 67 counties in South Dakota.
Deaths in Meade County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Meade County
I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Meade County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 13 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 43% of all fatal crashes in Meade County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 state highway. 55% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 45% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-90 | 13 | 13 | 8 | |
| 2 | State Highway 34 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
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 Meade County
42 fatal crashes in Meade County, South Dakota 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 9 am to 10 am; 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 11.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 9.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan0.0%
- Feb4.8%
- Mar0.0%
- Apr2.4%
- May7.1%
- Jun9.5%
- Jul19.0%
- Aug40.5%
- Sep2.4%
- Oct7.1%
- Nov0.0%
- Dec7.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Meade County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 19%, a pedestrian in 2.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 19 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 10 | 24% |
| Rollover | 8 | 19% |
| Other | 4 | 9.5% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 2.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 Meade County compare with South Dakota
The largest difference from South Dakota: from 2015 to 2024, 43% of fatal crashes in Meade County were with a motorcycle, against 19% across South Dakota. Below the South Dakota share: unlit roads at night and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Dakota. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 42 crashes.
| Meade | South Dakota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 86% | 82% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| At or near an intersection | 12% | 19% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 17% | 31% | below the South Dakota share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 35% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Speeding | 19% | 27% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.5% | 5.9% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 66% | below the South Dakota share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.4% | 1.8% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 43% | 19% | above the South Dakota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.3% | 7.7% | about the same as the South Dakota 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 Meade County, South Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in Meade County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Meade County, South Dakota, in 2024, up from 5 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Meade County?
- I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Meade County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 13 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Meade County involved a drinking driver?
- 15 of 42 fatal crashes in Meade County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 36%, against 35% across South Dakota.
Other counties in South Dakota with a page
All fatal crashes in South Dakota, with every county ranked.
Where the Meade County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Meade County (county code 93). 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/south-dakota/meade-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”