Salem Township, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem Township: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem Township and Turner County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Turner County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 41 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Turner County compares with South Dakota
Turner County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Turner County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Turner County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.0 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 7% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.21 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.3% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 64% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.1% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 71% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 16% below the state |
| After dark | 10.3% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 55% below the state |
Turner County sits below South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Turner County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 1.6% across South Dakota.
Overview
Turner County has recorded 41 truck crashes since 2015, with 8 people injured and 2 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 103 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Salem Township since 2015; patterns below come from Turner County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (14.6% of the year) and are lowest in February (2.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 17.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.3% 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 Salem happened on US-81 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Turner County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Salem Township fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Turner County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Turner County) |
|---|---|
| Ave | 10 |
| Sd Hwy 44 | 8 |
| US-18 | 6 |
| Sd Hwy 19 | 2 |
| 276Th St | 1 |
| 280Th St | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 46 | 1 |
| Vermillion St | 1 |
Salem Township at a glance
| Population | 136 |
| Land area | 36.4 sq mi |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57070) | $61,522 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57070) | $194,550 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Turner 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 | 2 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 4 | +56% | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 3 | -26% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 3 | +15% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 3. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem Township
How common are truck crashes in Salem Township?
41 truck crashes have been reported in Turner County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Salem Township?
The worst month is May: 14.6% of truck crashes in Turner County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salem Township?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Turner County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does Salem Township compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 39.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Turner County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Salem Township?
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.