Alcester, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Alcester: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Alcester and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 188 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with South Dakota
Union County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 90.4 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 31% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 64% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.6% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.2% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.3% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Union County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Union County: December worst month: 16.0% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Union County. They injured 17 people and killed 8.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 23 days.
Alcester had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Union County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 16.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 2.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.1% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 10.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 37.6% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Alcester since 2015 were spread across roads: 294th St (1), I-29 (1), SR-11 (1) and SR-46 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.5%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Alcester fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 37.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above South Dakota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 294th St | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| SR-46 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 139 |
| Sd Hwy 50 | 10 |
| Sd Hwy 46 | 8 |
| Ave | 6 |
| N Derby Ln | 4 |
| Sd Hwy 48 | 3 |
| River Dr | 2 |
| First St | 1 |
Alcester at a glance
| Population | 772 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,052 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57001) | $69,531 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57001) | $179,796 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 11 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 10 | -4% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 13 | +28% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 18 | +36% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 11 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Alcester
How common are truck crashes in Alcester?
Union County has had 188 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 17 people and killing 8.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Alcester?
December has the most truck crashes in Union County, 16.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Alcester?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Union County since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
How does Alcester compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Union County records 90.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Alcester?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.