Custer County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Custer 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 61 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Custer County compares with South Dakota
Custer County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Custer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Custer County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.5 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.8 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.05 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 62% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 3.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.7% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.0% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.7% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 17% below the state |
| After dark | 18.6% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Custer County is lower on injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Custer County: 1 in 20 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.1%, against 1.6% for South Dakota.
Overview
Custer County has recorded 61 truck crashes since 2015, with 3 people injured and 4 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 68 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 16.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 3.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.7% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 13.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.7% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Custer County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-385 (2), SR-79 (1) and US-16 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.9% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Custer County fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Custer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Custer County) |
|---|---|
| US-385 | 2 |
| SR-79 | 1 |
| US-16 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Custer County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 79 | 38 |
| US-16 | 5 |
| US-385 | 4 |
| 7-11 Rd | 2 |
| Sd Hwy 89 | 2 |
| 2Nd St | 1 |
| Bender Ridge Rd | 1 |
| French Creek Rd | 1 |
Custer County at a glance
| Population | 9,330 |
| Land area | 1,556.9 sq mi |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $88,731 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Custer 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 | 4 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | -4% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 4 | -12% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 7 | +85% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 7. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Custer County
ZIP codes in Custer County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Custer County
How many truck crashes happen in Custer County?
Custer County has had 61 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Custer County?
June has the most truck crashes in Custer County, 16.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Custer County?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Custer County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Custer County compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Custer County has 57.5 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Custer County?
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.