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1989

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 1989

Deaths 152Fatal crashes 134Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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. Final FARS file for 1989.

In 1989, 152 people died in 134 fatal crashes in South Dakota.

The death toll was about level between 1988 (147) and 1989 (152).

South Dakota accounted for 0.3% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

51.5% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198819891990 →All years

Compared with 1988 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 1989South Dakota 1988United States 1989
Deaths15214745,582
Fatal crashes13412740,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver51%48%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 48 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County171916.4141
Lawrence County91241.780
Minnehaha County783.8149
Oglala Lakota County7859.975
Brookings County5719.324
Custer County5553.631
Lincoln County556.656
Grant County4565.618
Clark County44100.75
Day County4474.06
Yankton County4417.038
Brown County3410.726
Deuel County3492.38
Faulk County1–24187.36
Dewey County3356.49
Haakon County33163.67
Meade County339.743
Mellette County33163.64
Tripp County3352.513
Butte County1–2327.518
Charles Mix County1–2332.127
Beadle County1–21–2—22
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Davison County1–21–2—13
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Lyman County1–21–2—21
Marshall County1–21–2—8
Todd County1–21–2—4
Union County1–21–2—18
Roberts County1–21–2—30
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Clay County1–21–2—12
Codington County1–21–2—31
Corson County1–21–2—14
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Harding County1–21–2—10
Hutchinson County1–21–2—25
Jackson County1–21–2—30
Jerauld County1–21–2—4
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
Lake County1–21–2—10
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Potter County1–21–2—4
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Sully County1–21–2—4
Ziebach County1–21–2—2

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am4.5%
1am5.3%
2am6.8%
3am1.5%
4am1.5%
5am0%
6am2.3%
7am3%
8am4.5%
9am0.8%
10am5.3%
11am3.8%
12pm6%
1pm3%
2pm5.3%
3pm3.8%
4pm5.3%
5pm6%
6pm3.8%
7pm4.5%
8pm7.5%
9pm5.3%
10pm4.5%
11pm6%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday10%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday15%
Thursday15%
Friday17%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 1989?

152 people in 134 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Pennington County with 19 deaths in 17 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in South Dakota?

152 deaths against 147 in 1988 (+3%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.