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2002

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2002

Deaths 180Fatal crashes 159Per 100,000 23.7US deaths 43,005

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 2002.

In 2002, 180 people died in 159 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 23.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 15.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 171 in 2001 to 180 in 2002.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 43,005 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

48.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

← 200120022003 →All years

Compared with 2001 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2002South Dakota 2001United States 2002
Deaths18017143,005
Fatal crashes15915438,491
Deaths per 100,000 residents23.722.615.0
Crashes with a drinking driver48%43%36%

Counties in 2002

Every county with a fatal crash in 2002, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 50 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County172017.2141
Minnehaha County13136.2149
Lawrence County101241.780
Oglala Lakota County101289.875
Roberts County61097.230
Corson County67186.814
Todd County5776.34
Brookings County5616.524
Yankton County5625.538
Meade County5516.243
Hutchinson County4567.425
Deuel County4492.38
Harding County44301.910
Jackson County44146.130
Custer County3442.931
Brown County338.026
Lincoln County334.056
Lyman County3380.621
Clay County1–2319.712
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Beadle County1–21–2—22
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Codington County1–21–2—31
Day County1–21–2—6
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Grant County1–21–2—18
Hand County1–21–2—5
Jones County1–21–2—13
Tripp County1–21–2—13
Turner County1–21–2—19
Union County1–21–2—18
Jerauld County1–21–2—4
Marshall County1–21–2—8
Bennett County1–21–2—10
Brule County1–21–2—6
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Hyde County1–21–2—5
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Spink County1–21–2—8
Stanley County1–21–2—5
Sully County1–21–2—4

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

12am3.9%
1am2.6%
2am3.9%
3am3.3%
4am1.3%
5am3.9%
6am3.3%
7am2%
8am3.3%
9am3.9%
10am2%
11am3.9%
12pm5.3%
1pm7.9%
2pm6.6%
3pm4.6%
4pm2.6%
5pm5.3%
6pm7.9%
7pm2%
8pm5.3%
9pm7.2%
10pm4.6%
11pm3.3%

Weekday

Sunday21%
Monday9%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday11%
Thursday11%
Friday10%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2002?

180 people in 159 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2002 file, or 23.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2002?

Pennington County with 20 deaths in 17 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2002 compare with 2001 in South Dakota?

180 deaths against 171 in 2001 (+5%). Nationally the 2002 total was 43,005.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2002 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.