Virginia, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Virginia: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Virginia 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. Where it is higher: 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
Police reported 188 crashes involving commercial trucks in Union County since 2015: 17 people were injured and 8 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 23 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Virginia since 2015; patterns below come from Union County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 16.0% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (2.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.1% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across 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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Virginia happened on SR-11 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.5% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Virginia fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 37.6% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; schedule winter checks early.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| SR-11 | 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 |
Virginia at a glance
| Population | 271 |
| Land area | 39.1 sq mi |
| Density | 7 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 |
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 Virginia
How common are truck crashes in Virginia?
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (17 injured, 8 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Virginia?
Truck crashes in Union County peak in December, with 16.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Virginia?
Since 2015, Union County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Virginia compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 90.4 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Virginia?
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.