Whitewood, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whitewood: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whitewood 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 |
Compared with South Dakota, Lawrence County is lower 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.
Lawrence County at a glance: 31.4% of truck crashes happen in rain, sleet or snow, vs 17.5% in South Dakota.
Overview
Since 2015, 124 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lawrence County. They injured 19 people and killed 6.
That averages about one truck crash every 34 days in fully reported years.
Whitewood had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Lawrence County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (4.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 33.1% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Whitewood since 2015: I-90 (2), SR-34 (1) and US-14A (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Whitewood fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 33.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lawrence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-34 | 1 |
| US-14A | 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 |
Whitewood at a glance
| Population | 965 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,445 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57793) | $87,351 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57793) | $372,212 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 12. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Whitewood
How many truck crashes happen in Whitewood?
Since 2015, 124 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lawrence County (19 injured, 6 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Whitewood?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Lawrence County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Whitewood?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Lawrence County since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Whitewood compared with South Dakota?
Lawrence County records 37.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Whitewood?
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.