Buffalo Gap, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Buffalo Gap: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Buffalo Gap and Fall River County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Fall River County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 45 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Fall River County compares with South Dakota
Fall River County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fall River County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fall River County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.4 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.7× 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 | 13.6% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 52% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 28% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.4% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 26% below the state |
| After dark | 22.7% | 22.8% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with South Dakota, Fall River County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Fall River County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 1.6% across South Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 45 crashes involving commercial trucks in Fall River County since 2015: 8 people were injured and 4 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 91 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Buffalo Gap since 2015, this page uses Fall River County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 13.3% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 36.4% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 13.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.6% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Buffalo Gap since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Fall River County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Buffalo Gap fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, 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 Fall River County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fall River County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 36 |
| US-385 | 4 |
| 6Th St | 1 |
| Old Highway 79 | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 471 | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 71 | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 79 | 1 |
Buffalo Gap at a glance
| Population | 154 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 503 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57766) | $96,146 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fall River 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 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 3 | +3% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 3 | +3% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 4 | +18% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 4 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Buffalo Gap
How common are truck crashes in Buffalo Gap?
Fall River County has had 45 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 8 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Buffalo Gap?
July has the most truck crashes in Fall River County, 13.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Buffalo Gap?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Fall River County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Buffalo Gap compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Fall River County has 54.4 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Buffalo Gap?
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.