Clay County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Clay 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
3 of 56 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with South Dakota
Clay County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.8 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.5 | 5.2 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 3.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.3% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 34.5% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.6× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 59% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 34.5% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 29% below the state |
| After dark | 7.3% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 68% below the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Clay County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Clay County: 1 in 18 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.5%, against 1.6% for South Dakota.
Overview
Since 2015, 56 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Clay County. They injured 9 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 73 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 21.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (0.0%).
November through March accounts for 34.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 14.3% of truck crashes.
7.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Clay County since 2015: SR-50 (2) and SR-19 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 5.4% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Clay County fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 34.5% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Clay County) |
|---|---|
| SR-50 | 2 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 50 | 28 |
| Sd Hwy 46 | 9 |
| Sd Hwy 19 | 7 |
| Ave | 5 |
| Compton Ct | 1 |
| Timber Rd | 1 |
Clay County at a glance
| Population | 15,245 |
| Land area | 412.0 sq mi |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $56,219 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +200% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | -37% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 5 | +40% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 5. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Clay County
ZIP codes in Clay County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Clay County
How many truck accidents are there in Clay County?
56 truck crashes have been reported in Clay County since 2015, with 3 deaths and 9 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Clay County?
Truck crashes in Clay County peak in August, with 21.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Clay County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Clay County since 2015 (5.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Clay County compared with South Dakota?
The yearly rate is 32.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Clay County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Clay County?
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.