Patten, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Patten: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Patten and Aurora County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Aurora County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 68 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Aurora County compares with South Dakota
Aurora County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Aurora County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Aurora County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 214.7 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 5.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.2 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 54% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 52.3% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 4.6% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 79% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 66.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 36.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.6× the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Aurora County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Aurora County: March worst month: 23.5% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 68 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Aurora County. They injured 7 people and killed 6.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 62 days.
Patten had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Aurora County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 23.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 1.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 66.1% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (10.3%).
52.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, no fatal large-truck crashes with a location were recorded within 10 miles of Patten.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Aurora County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Patten fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 52.3% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Aurora County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Aurora County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 44 |
| US-281 | 14 |
| Ave | 3 |
| Old Hwy 16 | 2 |
| Sd Hwy 258 | 1 |
Patten at a glance
| Population | 40 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57383) | $62,917 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57383) | $107,755 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Aurora County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 5 | -22% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 5 | -6% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 8 | +60% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Patten
How many truck accidents are there in Patten?
Since 2015, 68 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Aurora County (7 injured, 6 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Patten?
The worst month is March: 23.5% of truck crashes in Aurora County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Patten?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Aurora County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does Patten compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Aurora County has 214.7 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Patten?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.