Spearfish, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spearfish: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Spearfish and Lawrence County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lawrence County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 124 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lawrence County compares with South Dakota
Lawrence County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lawrence County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lawrence County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.2 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 11% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.1% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.1% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 28% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.0% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Lawrence County sits below South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Lawrence County: 31.4% in rain, sleet or snow, against 17.5% across South Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 124 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lawrence County since 2015: 19 people were injured and 6 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 34 days.
Only 32 truck crashes were reported in Spearfish since 2015; patterns below come from Lawrence County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in June (4.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 33.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Spearfish since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-34 (2) and CR-GOBBLER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.4% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Spearfish fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lawrence County.
- With 33.1% 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
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 Lawrence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-34 | 2 |
| CR-GOBBLER Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lawrence County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 51 |
| US-85 | 21 |
| Sd Hwy 34 | 20 |
| Us Hwy 14 A | 5 |
| US-14A | 5 |
| 1St Ave | 2 |
| Whitewood Valley Rd | 2 |
| 12Th St | 1 |
Spearfish at a glance
| Population | 13,803 |
| Land area | 17.3 sq mi |
| Density | 799 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lawrence 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 | 8 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 8 | +12% | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 10 | +21% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | +12% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 12 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Spearfish
How many truck accidents are there in Spearfish?
Lawrence County has had 124 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 19 people and killing 6.
When do most truck crashes happen in Spearfish?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Lawrence County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Spearfish?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Lawrence County since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
How does Spearfish compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lawrence County has 37.2 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Spearfish?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.