Smith, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Smith: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Smith and Brule County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Brule County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 54 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Brule County compares with South Dakota
Brule County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Brule County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Brule County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 84.7 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 62% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 44.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.4% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 28.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 59.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.5% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Brule County sits below South Dakota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Brule County: December 20.4% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 54 crashes involving commercial trucks in Brule County since 2015: 5 people were injured and 1 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 82 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Smith since 2015, this page uses Brule County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 20.4% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (1.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 59.2% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (13.0%).
44.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Smith happened on I-90 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Smith fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Brule County.
- 44.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Brule County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Brule County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 42 |
| Sd Hwy 50 | 6 |
| Sd Hwy 45 | 2 |
| 355Th Ave. | 1 |
| Ave | 1 |
Smith at a glance
| Population | 47 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57370) | $58,824 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Brule 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 | 2 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 4 | +91% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 5 | +17% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 4 | -8% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 4. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Smith
How common are truck crashes in Smith?
Since 2015, 54 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Brule County (5 injured, 1 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Smith?
Truck crashes in Brule County peak in December, with 20.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Smith?
Since 2015, Brule County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Smith compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Brule County has 84.7 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Smith?
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.