Custer, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Custer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Custer and Custer County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Custer County numbers.
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. It runs above South Dakota on 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
Police reported 61 crashes involving commercial trucks in Custer County since 2015: 3 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 68 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Custer since 2015, this page uses Custer County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (16.4% of the year) and are lowest in October (3.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.7% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, 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 within 10 miles of Custer since 2015 were spread across roads: US-385 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 4.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Custer fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Custer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-385 | 2 |
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 at a glance
| Population | 1,829 |
| Land area | 2.6 sq mi |
| Density | 716 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57730) | $83,469 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57730) | $358,464 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 7 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Custer
How common are truck crashes in Custer?
61 truck crashes have been reported in Custer County since 2015, with 4 deaths and 3 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Custer?
Truck crashes in Custer County peak in June, with 16.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Custer?
Since 2015, Custer County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Custer compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 57.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Custer County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Custer?
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.