Minnehaha County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Minnehaha County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 509 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Minnehaha County compares with South Dakota
Minnehaha County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Minnehaha County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Minnehaha County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.6 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.4% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.7% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.6% | 17.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 19.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Minnehaha County has lower values than South Dakota for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above South Dakota on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Minnehaha County: 1 in 29 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.4%, vs 1.6% in South Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 509 crashes involving commercial trucks in Minnehaha County since 2015: 59 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.1% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
26.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-90 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by SR-42 (3), I-29 (2) and 482nd Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 16 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Minnehaha County fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-90; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 26.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than South Dakota.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Minnehaha County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Minnehaha County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 5 |
| SR-42 | 3 |
| I-29 | 2 |
| 482nd Ave | 1 |
| CR-250 St | 1 |
| E 26th St | 1 |
| I-229 | 1 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
| SR-38 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Minnehaha County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 113 |
| I-29 | 105 |
| I-229 | 26 |
| Sd Hwy 42 | 14 |
| E Benson Rd | 13 |
| Sd Hwy 11 | 13 |
| N Cliff Ave | 10 |
| E Rice St | 9 |
Minnehaha County at a glance
| Population | 208,639 |
| Land area | 806.8 sq mi |
| Density | 259 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $80,118 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Minnehaha 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 | 23 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 36 | +61% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 31 | -16% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 53 | +73% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 23 a year in the 1990s and 53 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Minnehaha County
ZIP codes in Minnehaha County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Minnehaha County
How many truck crashes happen in Minnehaha County?
509 truck crashes have been reported in Minnehaha County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 59 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Minnehaha County?
I-90 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Minnehaha County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Minnehaha County?
Truck crashes in Minnehaha County peak in December, with 12.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Minnehaha County?
Since 2015, Minnehaha County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Minnehaha County compared with South Dakota?
The yearly rate is 20.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Minnehaha County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Minnehaha County?
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.