ZIP 57201 (Watertown, SD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 57201: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Codington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 133 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Codington County compares with South Dakota
Codington County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Codington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Codington County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.3 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 11% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.0 | 5.2 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 31% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.7% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.5% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.0% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.0% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 17.5% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Codington County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Codington County at a glance: 1 in 40 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.5%, vs 1.6% in South Dakota.
Overview
Since 2015, 133 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Codington County. They injured 12 people and killed 6.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 33 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (12.8% of the year) and are lowest in November (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.0% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 31.7% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 57201 is US-212, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by 20 Ave (1), CR-455TH Ave (1) and SR-19 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 57201 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-212; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 31.7% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Codington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-212 | 2 |
| 20 Ave | 1 |
| CR-455TH Ave | 1 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Codington County) |
|---|---|
| US-212 | 37 |
| I-29 | 31 |
| Sd Hwy 20 | 14 |
| Ave Se | 10 |
| US-81 | 10 |
| Ave | 7 |
| Ave Ne | 3 |
| St Se | 3 |
ZIP 57201 at a glance
| Population | 26,781 |
| Density | 32 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $72,878 |
| Median home value | $239,595 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Codington 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 | 8 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 10 | +28% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 9 | -9% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 13 | +45% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 57201
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 57201?
Codington County has had 133 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 12 people and killing 6.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 57201?
Since 2015, US-212 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 57201: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 57201?
Truck crashes in Codington County peak in March, with 12.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 57201?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Codington County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 57201 compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Codington County records 37.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 57201?
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.