Day County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Day 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
1 of 53 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Day County compares with South Dakota
Day County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Day County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Day County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 80.7 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.1% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.4% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 25.0% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Day County has lower values than South Dakota for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark.
The headline for Day County: February worst month: 15.1% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 53 crashes involving commercial trucks in Day County since 2015: 7 people were injured and 2 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 84 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 15.1% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (1.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.4% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 13.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Day County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-12 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Day County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Day County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Day County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Day County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 39 |
| Sd Hwy 25 | 4 |
| Ave | 1 |
| Main Street | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 27 | 1 |
Day County at a glance
| Population | 5,408 |
| Land area | 1,028.5 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $66,247 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Day 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 | 3 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 3 | +7% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 5 | +53% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 5 | +5% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Day County
ZIP codes in Day County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Day County
How many truck accidents are there in Day County?
Since 2015, 53 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Day County (7 injured, 2 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Day County?
February has the most truck crashes in Day County, 15.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Day County?
Since 2015, Day County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Day County compared with South Dakota?
The yearly rate is 80.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Day County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Day 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.