Melrose, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Melrose: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Melrose and Grant County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Grant County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 76 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Grant County compares with South Dakota
Grant County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grant County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grant County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 77.6 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.2 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.8× 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 | 33.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.2% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Grant County has lower values than South Dakota for garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Grant County: 0 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.0%, vs 1.6% in South Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 76 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grant County since 2015: 13 people were injured and 6 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 62 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Melrose since 2015, this page uses Grant County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 17.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 2.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.2% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 13.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 33.9% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Melrose happened on CR-149TH St (1), SR-123 (1) and SR-15 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Grant County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Melrose fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 29.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above South Dakota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 33.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above South Dakota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Grant County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-149TH St | 1 |
| SR-123 | 1 |
| SR-15 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grant County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 20 |
| Sd Hwy 15 | 13 |
| US-12 | 12 |
| Ave | 9 |
| Sd Hwy 20 | 5 |
| 161St | 1 |
| Lloyd St | 1 |
| Railroad Ave | 1 |
Melrose at a glance
| Population | 383 |
| Land area | 47.7 sq mi |
| Density | 8 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57227) | $96,500 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grant 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 4 | +105% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 5 | +24% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 7 | +31% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 7. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Melrose
How many truck crashes happen in Melrose?
Since 2015, 76 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grant County (13 injured, 6 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Melrose?
The worst month is June: 17.1% of truck crashes in Grant County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Melrose?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grant County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Melrose compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Grant County has 77.6 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Melrose?
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.