Ethan, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ethan: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ethan and Davison County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Davison County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 96 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Davison County compares with South Dakota
Davison County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Davison County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Davison County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.6 | 42.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 79% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.3% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.5% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 25.8% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Davison County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: injuries per crash, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Davison County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 1.6% across South Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 96 crashes involving commercial trucks in Davison County since 2015: 15 people were injured and 1 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 45 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Ethan since 2015, this page uses Davison County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.2% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 12.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 30.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Ethan since 2015: SR-37 (4). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Ethan fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Davison County.
- 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 Davison County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-37 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Davison County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 38 |
| Sd Hwy 37 | 18 |
| Ave | 15 |
| Sd Hwy 38 | 2 |
| Sd Hwy 90 L | 2 |
| Cabela Dr | 1 |
| E 1St Ave | 1 |
| I-90E | 1 |
Ethan at a glance
| Population | 358 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,404 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57334) | $62,167 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57334) | $191,838 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Davison 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 | 6 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 5 | -22% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 7 | +41% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 10 | +45% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 10. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ethan
How many truck crashes happen in Ethan?
Davison County has had 96 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15 people and killing 1.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ethan?
The worst month is December: 14.6% of truck crashes in Davison County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Ethan?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Davison County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Ethan compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Davison County has 40.6 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ethan?
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.