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Buffalo County
Residents 1,825Deaths 2024 4Deaths 2015–2024 14Latest data year 2024
FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.
In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Buffalo County (South Dakota) had 3 fatal crashes with 4 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths.
With 1,825 residents, that is 71.6 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 4.8 times the South Dakota rate of 14.9 and above the national rate of 11.8. The rate rests on very few deaths and can double or halve with a single crash; through traffic on a route that passes a small population raises it further.
Counts this small move a lot from year to year, so the page shows ten-year totals and five-year bins rather than single years; 2005–2014 had 5 deaths.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is pedestrians: 21.4% against 7.7% for South Dakota.
38% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Sunday was the most common day (38%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 180% (5 in 2005–2014, 14 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.
Compared with South Dakota and the nation
| Measure | Buffalo | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 71.6 | 14.9 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 219.2 | 15.8 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 14 | 1,323 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 13 | 1,174 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +180% | -7% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 100% | 82% | 43% |
Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 1,825 in 2024.
Factors
"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.
Time of day and day of week
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Fatal crashes in Buffalo County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 13 crashes with a known hour and weekday.
By weekday
Light condition
Road type
FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the South Dakota share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.
Weather
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Buffalo
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Route 34 | State highway | 2 | 24 | 28 | 21% | 17% |
Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.
Questions and answers
How many people died in crashes in Buffalo County, South Dakota?
4 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 11 over 2020–2024 and 14 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Buffalo compare with South Dakota?
71.6 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 14.9 for South Dakota and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Buffalo involved alcohol?
61.5% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 34.9% in South Dakota. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 21.4%.
Which roads in Buffalo see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 34 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Buffalo?
Most often between noon to 6pm (38% of crashes) and on Sundays (38%); 46.2% happened after dark.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.