ZIP 57720 (Buffalo, SD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 57720: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Harding 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
0 of 51 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Harding County compares with South Dakota
Harding County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Harding County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Harding County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 288.2 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 6.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.8× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.2% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.4× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 22% below the state |
| After dark | 11.9% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Harding County has lower values than South Dakota for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Harding County at a glance: 0 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.0%, vs 1.6% in South Dakota.
Overview
Since 2015, 51 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Harding County. They injured 11 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 96 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 15.7% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.1% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 13.7% of truck crashes.
26.2% 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 ZIP 57720 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-85 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Harding County since 2015.
Route planning tips for ZIP 57720 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.9% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Harding County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-85 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Harding County) |
|---|---|
| US-85 | 26 |
| Sd Hwy 79 | 22 |
| Cox Rd | 1 |
| Park Rd | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 20 | 1 |
ZIP 57720 at a glance
| Population | 518 |
| Density | 0 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $79,091 |
| Home ownership | 81% |
Historical data: truck crashes in Harding 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 | 2 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 2 | -3% | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 6 | +241% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 3 | -54% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 3 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 57720
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 57720?
51 truck crashes have been reported in Harding County since 2015, with 3 deaths and 11 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 57720?
Truck crashes in Harding County peak in June, with 15.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 57720?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Harding County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 57720 compare with South Dakota?
Harding County records 288.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 57720?
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.