Lake Madison, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lake Madison: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lake Madison and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 35 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with South Dakota
Lake County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.4 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 37% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.6% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 45% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.2% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 64% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 21.9% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 55% below the state |
| After dark | 3.1% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 86% below the state |
Lake County sits below South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Lake County: July the month with the most truck crashes: 25.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 35 truck crashes since 2015, with 7 people injured and 1 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 125 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Lake Madison since 2015, this page uses Lake County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (25.7% of the year) and are lowest in February (2.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 21.9% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 20.0% of truck crashes.
15.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Lake Madison since 2015: SR-34 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 2.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Lake Madison fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above South Dakota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-34 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 34 | 9 |
| Ave | 7 |
| US-81 | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 19 | 3 |
| SR-34 | 1 |
| Se 4Th St | 1 |
Lake Madison at a glance
| Land area | 4.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57075) | $106,763 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57075) | $427,203 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 2 | +14% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 3 | +45% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 2 | -20% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 2. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lake Madison
How many truck accidents are there in Lake Madison?
Since 2015, 35 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (7 injured, 1 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Lake Madison?
July has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 25.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Lake Madison?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Lake Madison compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 26.4 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lake Madison?
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.