Elm Springs, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elm Springs: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elm Springs and Meade County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Meade County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 140 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Meade County compares with South Dakota
Meade County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Meade County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Meade County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.5 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 8% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 5.2 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 38% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.7% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.2% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Meade County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
What stands out in Meade County: December the month with the most truck crashes: 15.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Meade County has recorded 140 truck crashes since 2015, with 14 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 31 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Elm Springs since 2015; patterns below come from Meade County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (15.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.1% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 10.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elm Springs since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Elm Springs fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Meade County.
- 25.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above South Dakota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Meade County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Meade County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 77 |
| Sd Hwy 34 | 14 |
| Sd Hwy 79 | 8 |
| US-212 | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 73 | 5 |
| New Underwood Rd | 3 |
| Avalanche Rd | 2 |
| Elk Creek Rd | 2 |
Elm Springs at a glance
| Population | 26 |
| Land area | 27.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57791) | $42,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57791) | $121,197 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Meade 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 | 6 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 10 | +58% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 10 | -2% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 14 | +46% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elm Springs
How many truck crashes happen in Elm Springs?
140 truck crashes have been reported in Meade County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 14 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elm Springs?
December has the most truck crashes in Meade County, 15.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Elm Springs?
Since 2015, Meade County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Elm Springs compare with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Meade County has 38.5 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Elm Springs?
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.