Rapid Valley, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rapid Valley: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rapid Valley and Pennington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pennington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 399 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pennington County compares with South Dakota
Pennington County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pennington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pennington County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.1 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 31% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 42% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.8% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.0% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.2% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Pennington County sits below South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Pennington County: 1 in 41 crashes involve a garbage truck (10 since 2015), vs 1.6% across South Dakota.
Overview
Pennington County has recorded 399 truck crashes since 2015, with 38 people injured and 11 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
Rapid Valley had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Pennington County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.2% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 28.8% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
I-90 leads within 10 miles of Rapid Valley with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come 5th St (1), CR-HWY 14-16 E (1) and Elk Vale Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Rapid Valley fleets
- Build extra time into January 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.
- 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 Pennington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 2 |
| 5th St | 1 |
| CR-HWY 14-16 E | 1 |
| Elk Vale Rd | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
| US-16 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pennington County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 194 |
| US-16 | 39 |
| Sd Hwy 44 | 26 |
| Sd Hwy 79 | 16 |
| Ave | 7 |
| Sd Hwy 445 | 7 |
| Us Hwy 16 B | 5 |
| Cambell St | 4 |
Rapid Valley at a glance
| Land area | 6.4 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57701) | $56,461 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57701) | $253,157 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pennington 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 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 24 | +2% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 25 | +5% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 42 | +67% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 23 to 42. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rapid Valley
How common are truck crashes in Rapid Valley?
Pennington County has had 399 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 38 people and killing 11.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Rapid Valley?
NHTSA data shows I-90 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Rapid Valley since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Rapid Valley?
Truck crashes in Pennington County peak in January, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rapid Valley?
Since 2015, Pennington County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Rapid Valley compared with South Dakota?
Pennington County records 29.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Rapid Valley?
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.