Dempster, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dempster: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dempster and Hamlin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hamlin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 49 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hamlin County compares with South Dakota
Hamlin County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hamlin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hamlin County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.3 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 46% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.6% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 16.3% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Hamlin County has lower values than South Dakota for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and garbage-truck share.
Hamlin County at a glance: September the month with the most truck crashes: 20.4% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 49 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hamlin County since 2015: 5 people were injured and 2 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 93 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Dempster since 2015; patterns below come from Hamlin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 20.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 2.0%.
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 14.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Dempster since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-465 Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 2.0% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Dempster fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hamlin County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Hamlin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-465 Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hamlin County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 28 | 12 |
| US-81 | 10 |
| I-29 | 8 |
| Ave | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 22 | 4 |
| 181St St | 1 |
| 2Nd Ave | 1 |
| 461St Ave | 1 |
Dempster at a glance
| Population | 243 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57223) | $92,424 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57223) | $241,302 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Hamlin 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 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 3 | +55% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 4 | +18% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 4 | -12% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 4. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dempster
How many truck accidents are there in Dempster?
49 truck crashes have been reported in Hamlin County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Dempster?
Truck crashes in Hamlin County peak in September, with 20.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Dempster?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Hamlin County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
How does Dempster compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Hamlin County has 59.3 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Dempster?
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.