Brookings, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Brookings: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Brookings and Brookings County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Brookings County numbers.
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 |
Compared with South Dakota, Brookings County is lower on 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 worst month: 13.4% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Brookings County has recorded 157 truck crashes since 2015, with 19 people injured and 5 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 27 days in fully reported years.
With 20 truck crashes reported in Brookings since 2015, this page uses Brookings County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 13.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.3% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (12.1%).
Road surface: 28.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Brookings since 2015 were spread across roads: US-14 (2) and I-29 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Brookings fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Brookings County.
- Morning starts matter: 24.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than South Dakota.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 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 at a glance
| Population | 24,555 |
| Land area | 14.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,759 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57006) | $66,337 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57006) | $271,644 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 16. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Brookings
How many truck crashes happen in Brookings?
Since 2015, 157 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Brookings County (19 injured, 5 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Brookings?
Truck crashes in Brookings County peak in March, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Brookings?
Since 2015, Brookings County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Brookings compared with South Dakota?
Brookings County records 37.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Brookings?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.