Dell Rapids, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dell Rapids: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dell Rapids and Minnehaha County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Minnehaha County numbers.
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 |
Compared with South Dakota, Minnehaha County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: 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
Minnehaha County has recorded 509 truck crashes since 2015, with 59 people injured and 18 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
Dell Rapids had 3 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Minnehaha County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 12.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.5%.
November through March accounts for 45.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.7% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Dell Rapids happened on 482nd Ave (1), CR-250 St (1) and I-29 (1); no road leads clearly.
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 Dell Rapids fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Minnehaha County.
- 26.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above South Dakota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Minnehaha County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 482nd Ave | 1 |
| CR-250 St | 1 |
| I-29 | 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 |
Dell Rapids at a glance
| Population | 3,825 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,697 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57022) | $100,656 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57022) | $319,855 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 23 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 53. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dell Rapids
How many truck accidents are there in Dell Rapids?
Minnehaha County has had 509 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 59 people and killing 18.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Dell Rapids?
Truck crashes in Minnehaha County peak in December, with 12.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Dell Rapids?
Since 2015, Minnehaha County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Dell Rapids compare with South Dakota?
The yearly rate is 20.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Minnehaha County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Dell Rapids?
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.