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1998

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 1998

Deaths 165Fatal crashes 149Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 165 people died in 149 fatal crashes in South Dakota.

The death toll rose 11% from 148 in 1997 to 165 in 1998.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Thursday was the most common day.

← 199719981999 →All years

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 1998South Dakota 1997United States 1998
Deaths16514841,501
Fatal crashes14912837,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver38%37%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 52 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County131412.1141
Minnehaha County12136.2149
Todd County1011119.94
Lincoln County679.356
Sully County1–27476.84
Brookings County6616.524
Oglala Lakota County6644.975
Roberts County6658.330
Yankton County4521.338
Beadle County4420.622
Brown County4410.726
Hughes County4422.811
Lawrence County4413.980
Meade County4412.943
Mellette County44218.14
Davison County3420.113
Hutchinson County3453.925
Deuel County3369.28
Fall River County3340.825
Gregory County3373.08
McCook County3352.016
Day County1–2355.56
Lyman County1–2380.621
McPherson County1–23130.03
Bennett County1–21–2—10
Clark County1–21–2—5
Corson County1–21–2—14
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Tripp County1–21–2—13
Turner County1–21–2—19
Walworth County1–21–2—11
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Brule County1–21–2—6
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Butte County1–21–2—18
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Codington County1–21–2—31
Custer County1–21–2—31
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Grant County1–21–2—18
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Harding County1–21–2—10
Marshall County1–21–2—8
Moody County1–21–2—14
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Stanley County1–21–2—5
Union County1–21–2—18

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

12am2.8%
1am4.9%
2am5.6%
3am2.1%
4am1.4%
5am1.4%
6am2.8%
7am4.9%
8am7%
9am2.1%
10am1.4%
11am4.9%
12pm3.5%
1pm4.2%
2pm5.6%
3pm2.1%
4pm7.7%
5pm5.6%
6pm9.1%
7pm2.8%
8pm6.3%
9pm4.2%
10pm4.2%
11pm3.5%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%
Thursday17%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 1998?

165 people in 149 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Pennington County with 14 deaths in 13 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in South Dakota?

165 deaths against 148 in 1997 (+11%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.