Meckling, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Meckling: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Meckling and Clay County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Clay County numbers.
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 |
Clay County has lower values than South Dakota for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above South Dakota on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Clay County at a glance: 1 in 18 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.5%, vs 1.6% in South Dakota.
Overview
Clay County has recorded 56 truck crashes since 2015, with 9 people injured and 3 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 73 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Meckling since 2015, this page uses Clay County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (21.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Meckling since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-50 (2) and SR-19 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.4% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Meckling fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Clay County.
- Morning starts matter: 34.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than South Dakota.
- 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 Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Meckling at a glance
| Population | 216 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,059 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57069) | $53,327 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57069) | $228,012 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Meckling
How many truck crashes happen in Meckling?
Clay County has had 56 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 9 people and killing 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Meckling?
The worst month is August: 21.4% of truck crashes in Clay County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Meckling?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clay County since 2015, 5.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Meckling compare with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 32.8 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Meckling?
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.