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2003

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2003

Deaths 203Fatal crashes 173Per 100,000 26.6US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 203 people died in 173 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 26.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 13% from 180 in 2002 to 203 in 2003.

South Dakota accounted for 0.5% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

45.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

38% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 200220032004 →All years

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2003South Dakota 2002United States 2003
Deaths20318042,884
Fatal crashes17315938,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents26.623.714.8
Crashes with a drinking driver46%48%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 49 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Oglala Lakota County1620149.775
Minnehaha County15199.1149
Pennington County11119.5141
Meade County91032.343
Davison County8840.213
Clay County7852.512
McCook County78138.616
Lawrence County7724.380
Mellette County67381.74
Todd County6776.34
Roberts County5768.130
Corson County56160.114
Union County4634.518
Day County1–26110.96
Moody County5576.614
Charles Mix County4442.827
Lyman County44107.521
Bennett County34121.610
Brown County3410.726
Lincoln County345.356
Brookings County338.324
Codington County3310.231
Jackson County33109.630
Yankton County3312.838
Aurora County1–23109.015
Hughes County1–2317.111
Tripp County1–2352.513
Brule County1–21–2—6
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Grant County1–21–2—18
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Harding County1–21–2—10
Beadle County1–21–2—22
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Butte County1–21–2—18
Campbell County1–21–2—4
Custer County1–21–2—31
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Hand County1–21–2—5
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
Lake County1–21–2—10
Marshall County1–21–2—8
Miner County1–21–2—6
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Potter County1–21–2—4
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Turner County1–21–2—19

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

12am4.9%
1am3%
2am1.2%
3am0.6%
4am1.2%
5am3%
6am0.6%
7am3.7%
8am0.6%
9am2.4%
10am5.5%
11am3.7%
12pm6.7%
1pm1.2%
2pm11%
3pm7.9%
4pm6.1%
5pm5.5%
6pm3%
7pm7.9%
8pm6.1%
9pm6.1%
10pm5.5%
11pm2.4%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday14%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday17%
Friday12%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2003?

203 people in 173 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 26.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Oglala Lakota County with 20 deaths in 16 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in South Dakota?

203 deaths against 180 in 2002 (+13%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.