Morton, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Morton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Morton and Day County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Day County numbers.
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. It runs above South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark.
What stands out in Day County: February 15.1% of truck crashes happen in February, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 53 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Day County. They injured 7 people and killed 2.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 84 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Morton since 2015; patterns below come from Day County as a whole.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 15.1% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (1.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 35.4% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 13.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.1% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Morton since 2015 were spread across roads: US-12 (1).
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 Morton fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Day County.
- 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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 1 |
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 |
Morton at a glance
| Population | 74 |
| Land area | 35.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57274) | $68,083 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57274) | $169,017 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 5. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Morton
How many truck accidents are there in Morton?
53 truck crashes have been reported in Day County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 7 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Morton?
The worst month is February: 15.1% of truck crashes in Day County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Morton?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Day County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Morton compare with South Dakota?
Day County records 80.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Morton?
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.