Elk Point, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk Point: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk Point 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 stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Union County: December worst month: 16.0% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 188 crashes involving commercial trucks in Union County since 2015: 17 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 23 days.
Elk Point had 0 reported truck crashes 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%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.1% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.1% of truck crashes.
37.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elk Point since 2015 were spread across roads: I-29 (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 Elk Point fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 37.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above South Dakota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 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 |
Elk Point at a glance
| Population | 2,074 |
| Land area | 1.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,339 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57025) | $94,839 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57025) | $239,870 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 18. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk Point
How many truck crashes happen in Elk Point?
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (17 injured, 8 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Elk Point?
The worst month is December: 16.0% of truck crashes in Union County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Elk Point?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015, 0.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Elk Point compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 90.4 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Elk Point?
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.