Big Sioux, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Big Sioux: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Big Sioux 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 |
Union County sits below South Dakota 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 the month with the most truck crashes: 16.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Union County has recorded 188 truck crashes since 2015, with 17 people injured and 8 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 23 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Big Sioux since 2015; patterns below come from Union County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (16.0% of the year) and are lowest in October (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.1% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (10.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 37.6% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
I-29 leads within 10 miles of Big Sioux with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-75 (2), 18th St (1) and CR-152ND St (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 Big Sioux fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-29 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 37.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 4 |
| US-75 | 2 |
| 18th St | 1 |
| CR-152ND St | 1 |
| I-129 | 1 |
| SR-35 | 1 |
| SR-376 | 1 |
| US-20 | 1 |
| Us- Hwy 20 | 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 |
Big Sioux at a glance
| Population | 5,145 |
| Land area | 10.8 sq mi |
| Density | 475 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57049) | $93,134 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57049) | $427,075 |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Big Sioux
How many truck crashes happen in Big Sioux?
188 truck crashes have been reported in Union County since 2015, with 8 deaths and 17 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Big Sioux?
I-29 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Big Sioux since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Big Sioux?
The worst month is December: 16.0% of truck crashes in Union County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Big Sioux?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Union County since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
How does Big Sioux compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 90.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Union County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Big Sioux?
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.