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2008

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2008

Deaths 121Fatal crashes 109Per 100,000 15.1US deaths 37,423

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 2008.

In 2008, 121 people died in 109 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 15.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.3 nationally.

The death toll fell 17% from 146 in 2007 to 121 in 2008.

South Dakota accounted for 0.3% of the 37,423 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6am to noon; Wednesday was the most common day.

← 200720082009 →All years

Compared with 2007 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2008South Dakota 2007United States 2008
Deaths12114637,423
Fatal crashes10913034,172
Deaths per 100,000 residents15.118.412.3
Crashes with a drinking driver36%39%33%

Counties in 2008

Every county with a fatal crash in 2008, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 47 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Minnehaha County11115.3149
Pennington County10108.6141
Meade County7825.943
Oglala Lakota County5644.975
Butte County4545.918
Lawrence County4413.980
Beadle County3420.622
Brookings County338.324
Codington County3310.231
Hand County3396.95
Jackson County33109.630
Lincoln County334.056
Union County3317.218
Deuel County1–2369.28
Grant County1–2339.418
Lyman County1–2380.621
Turner County1–2333.019
Brown County1–21–2—26
Clay County1–21–2—12
Davison County1–21–2—13
Day County1–21–2—6
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Lake County1–21–2—10
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Roberts County1–21–2—30
Yankton County1–21–2—38
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Jones County1–21–2—13
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Bennett County1–21–2—10
Brule County1–21–2—6
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Corson County1–21–2—14
Custer County1–21–2—31
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Hyde County1–21–2—5
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
McCook County1–21–2—16
Mellette County1–21–2—4
Moody County1–21–2—14
Potter County1–21–2—4
Stanley County1–21–2—5
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

12am6.5%
1am3.7%
2am3.7%
3am0.9%
4am3.7%
5am0%
6am2.8%
7am10.2%
8am3.7%
9am4.6%
10am2.8%
11am5.6%
12pm5.6%
1pm3.7%
2pm5.6%
3pm3.7%
4pm6.5%
5pm3.7%
6pm2.8%
7pm0.9%
8pm10.2%
9pm2.8%
10pm1.9%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday7%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday18%
Thursday16%
Friday14%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2008?

121 people in 109 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2008 file, or 15.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2008?

Minnehaha County with 11 deaths in 11 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2008 compare with 2007 in South Dakota?

121 deaths against 146 in 2007 (+-17%). Nationally the 2008 total was 37,423.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2008 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.