Fatal crashes in Pennington County, South Dakota
In 2024, 12 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Pennington County, South Dakota, up from 10 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 135 fatal crashes and 141 deaths, the most of any county in South Dakota.
10.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.8 across South Dakota in 2024; 12.6 against 14.9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 115,979, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Dakota.
Deaths in Pennington County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 18 | 18 |
| 2021 | 23 | 26 |
| 2020 | 11 | 11 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 11 | 11 |
| 2017 | 17 | 17 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 15 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Pennington County
I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Pennington County from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 21 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 44% of all fatal crashes in Pennington County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 1 state highway. 54% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 46% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-90 | 21 | 21 | 7 | |
| 2 | US 16 | 18 | 18 | 4 | no page |
| 3 | State Highway 44 | 14 | 15 | 3 | no page |
| 4 | US 385 | 7 | 8 | 1 | no page |
Rapid City had 36% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 49 of 135.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Rapid City 49. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
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 Pennington County
134 fatal crashes in Pennington 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 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 | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.0%
- Feb4.4%
- Mar8.9%
- Apr8.1%
- May7.4%
- Jun3.7%
- Jul8.1%
- Aug18.5%
- Sep10.4%
- Oct11.1%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec7.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Pennington County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 33%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 22%, a pedestrian in 16%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 44 | 33% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 33 | 24% |
| Rollover | 30 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 16% |
| Other | 5 | 3.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.5% |
| Cyclist | 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 Pennington County compare with South Dakota
The largest difference from South Dakota: from 2015 to 2024, 50% of fatal crashes in Pennington County were on rural roads, against 82% across South Dakota. Also above the South Dakota share: motorcycles and pedestrians. 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 135 crashes.
| Pennington | South Dakota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 50% | 82% | below the South Dakota share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 19% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 31% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 35% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Speeding | 26% | 27% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.7% | 5.9% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 68% | 66% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.0% | 1.8% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 39% | 19% | above the South Dakota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 7.7% | above 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 Pennington County, South Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in Pennington County in 2024?
- 12 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Pennington County, South Dakota, in 2024, up from 10 in 2023. That is 10.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.8 across South Dakota. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Pennington County?
- I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Pennington County from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 21 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Pennington County involved a drinking driver?
- 41 of 135 fatal crashes in Pennington County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, 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 Pennington County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Pennington County (county code 103). 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/pennington-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”