Lake Norden, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lake Norden: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lake Norden 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.
The headline for Hamlin County: September 20.4% of truck crashes happen in September, more than any other month.
Overview
Hamlin County has recorded 49 truck crashes since 2015, with 5 people injured and 2 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 93 days.
Lake Norden had 2 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
September has the most truck crashes, 20.4% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (2.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 14.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.9% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lake Norden since 2015 were spread across roads: US-81 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Lake Norden fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, 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
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) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 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 |
Lake Norden at a glance
| Population | 625 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 717 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57248) | $96,364 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57248) | $294,505 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 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 large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lake Norden
How common are truck crashes in Lake Norden?
Hamlin County has had 49 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 5 people and killing 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Lake Norden?
Truck crashes in Hamlin County peak in September, with 20.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Lake Norden?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hamlin County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Lake Norden compare with South Dakota?
Hamlin County records 59.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Lake Norden?
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.