Jefferson, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Jefferson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Jefferson 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 has lower values than South Dakota for 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.
Union County at a glance: December 16.0% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
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 Jefferson since 2015; patterns below come from Union County as a whole.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (10.1%).
Road surface: 37.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Jefferson since 2015 were spread across roads: I-29 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.5% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Jefferson fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 37.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 | 3 |
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 |
Jefferson at a glance
| Population | 449 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 880 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57038) | $106,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57038) | $306,491 |
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 Jefferson
How many truck crashes happen in Jefferson?
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (17 injured, 8 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Jefferson?
Truck crashes in Union County peak in December, with 16.0% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Jefferson?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Union County since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Jefferson compared with South Dakota?
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 Jefferson?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.