Brookings County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Brookings County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 157 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Brookings County compares with South Dakota
Brookings County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Brookings County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Brookings County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.0 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 48% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 16% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.4% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.5% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.3% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Brookings County has lower values than South Dakota for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above South Dakota on morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Brookings County: March 13.4% of truck crashes happen in March, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 157 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Brookings County. They injured 19 people and killed 5.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 27 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (13.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.5%).
November through March accounts for 49.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 28.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Brookings County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-14 (2) and I-29 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Brookings County fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 24.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above South Dakota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Brookings County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Brookings County) |
|---|---|
| US-14 | 2 |
| I-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Brookings County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 54 |
| US-14 | 32 |
| Ave | 27 |
| Sd Hwy 324 | 4 |
| Us Hwy 14 B | 4 |
| 22Nd Ave | 3 |
| Sd Hwy 30 | 3 |
| 8Th St | 2 |
Brookings County at a glance
| Population | 36,359 |
| Land area | 792.2 sq mi |
| Density | 46 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $69,832 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Brookings 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 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 7 | +29% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 11 | +58% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 16 | +43% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 16. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Brookings County
ZIP codes in Brookings County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Brookings County
How many truck accidents are there in Brookings County?
Since 2015, 157 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Brookings County (19 injured, 5 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Brookings County?
Truck crashes in Brookings County peak in March, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Brookings County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Brookings County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Brookings County compared with South Dakota?
Brookings County records 37.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Brookings County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.