Wellington, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wellington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wellington 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 |
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).
What stands out in Minnehaha County: 1 in 29 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.4%, against 1.6% for South Dakota.
Overview
Since 2015, 509 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Minnehaha County. They injured 59 people and killed 18.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Wellington since 2015, this page uses Minnehaha County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 26.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-42 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by I-90 (2), CR-447TH Ave (1) and SR-19 (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 Wellington fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Minnehaha County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-42 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 26.9% 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 Minnehaha County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-42 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| CR-447TH Ave | 1 |
| SR-19 | 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 |
Wellington at a glance
| Population | 268 |
| Land area | 35.5 sq mi |
| Density | 8 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57035) | $99,565 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57035) | $326,909 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 23 to 53. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wellington
How many truck crashes happen in Wellington?
509 truck crashes have been reported in Minnehaha County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 59 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Wellington?
Since 2015, SR-42 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Wellington: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Wellington?
December has the most truck crashes in Minnehaha County, 12.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Wellington?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Minnehaha County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Wellington compare with South Dakota?
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 Wellington?
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.