Hartford, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hartford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hartford 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. It runs above South Dakota on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Minnehaha County at a glance: 1 in 29 crashes involve a garbage truck (16 since 2015), vs 1.6% across South Dakota.
Overview
Minnehaha County has recorded 509 truck crashes since 2015, with 59 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
Hartford had 1 reported truck crash 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%.
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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.7% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Hartford is I-90, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-29 (1), SR-38 (1) and SR-42 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Hartford fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Minnehaha County.
- Check whether your routes use I-90, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| SR-38 | 1 |
| SR-42 | 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 |
Hartford at a glance
| Population | 3,600 |
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,140 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57033) | $105,560 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57033) | $296,485 |
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. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hartford
How common are truck crashes in Hartford?
Since 2015, 509 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Minnehaha County (59 injured, 18 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Hartford?
Since 2015, I-90 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Hartford: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hartford?
Truck crashes in Minnehaha County peak in December, with 12.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Hartford?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Minnehaha County since 2015, 3.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Hartford compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Minnehaha County has 20.6 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Hartford?
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.