Salem, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem and McCook County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McCook County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 120 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McCook County compares with South Dakota
McCook County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McCook County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McCook County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 168.6 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 4.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 63% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 54% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 42% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 54.2% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.6% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.2% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 63.5% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 18.7% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Compared with South Dakota, McCook County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in McCook County: March worst month: 22.5% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 120 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in McCook County. They injured 8 people and killed 4.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 38 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Salem since 2015; patterns below come from McCook County as a whole.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 22.5% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 63.5% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (11.7%).
Road surface: 54.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Salem since 2015 were spread across roads: I-90 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.8%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Salem fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 54.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 McCook County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McCook County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 74 |
| US-81 | 16 |
| Ave | 11 |
| Sd Hwy 42 | 7 |
| Sd Hwy 38 | 4 |
| Sd Hwy 262 | 3 |
Salem at a glance
| Population | 1,315 |
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,052 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57058) | $84,286 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57058) | $218,079 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McCook 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 | 4 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 7 | +76% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 9 | +38% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 11 | +17% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem
How common are truck crashes in Salem?
McCook County has had 120 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 8 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Salem?
Truck crashes in McCook County peak in March, with 22.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salem?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in McCook County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Salem compare with South Dakota?
McCook County records 168.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Salem?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.