Douglas County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Douglas 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
0 of 23 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Douglas County compares with South Dakota
Douglas County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Douglas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Douglas County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.2 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 13% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.3% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 9.1% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 59% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 13.6% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Douglas County sits below South Dakota on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and injuries per crash.
The headline for Douglas County: December 30.4% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
Overview
Douglas County has recorded 23 truck crashes since 2015, with 4 people injured and 1 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 182 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 30.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 0.0%.
November through March accounts for 50.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 21.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.3% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, no fatal large-truck crashes with a location were recorded in Douglas County.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Douglas County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Douglas County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Douglas County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Douglas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded in Douglas County since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 44 | 14 |
| US-281 | 4 |
| Ave | 2 |
| 281St St. | 1 |
Douglas County at a glance
| Population | 2,849 |
| Land area | 431.8 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $84,868 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Douglas 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 | 2 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 1 | -51% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 2 | +36% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 2 | +22% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 2. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported.
Cities, towns & communities in Douglas County
ZIP codes in Douglas County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Douglas County
How common are truck crashes in Douglas County?
Douglas County has had 23 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 4 people and killing 1.
When do most truck crashes happen in Douglas County?
Truck crashes in Douglas County peak in December, with 30.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Douglas County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Douglas County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Douglas County compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Douglas County has 70.2 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Douglas County?
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.