Hazel, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hazel: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hazel 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
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
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 |
Compared with South Dakota, Hamlin County is lower on 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.
What stands out in Hamlin County: September worst month: 20.4% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Hamlin County has recorded 49 truck crashes since 2015, with 5 people injured and 2 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 93 days in fully reported years.
Hazel had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hamlin County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 20.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 2.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out 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
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of Hazel since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Hazel fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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 (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 |
Hazel at a glance
| Population | 98 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 405 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57242) | $113,958 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57242) | $175,202 |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hazel
How many truck crashes happen in Hazel?
Hamlin County has had 49 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 5 people and killing 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hazel?
Truck crashes in Hamlin County peak in September, with 20.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Hazel?
Since 2015, Hamlin County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 2.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Hazel compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Hamlin County has 59.3 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Hazel?
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.