Fatal Roads

States › South Dakota › 2012

2012

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2012

Deaths 133Fatal crashes 118Per 100,000 15.9US deaths 33,782

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 2012.

In 2012, 133 people died in 118 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 15.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 10.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 20% from 111 in 2011 to 133 in 2012.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 33,782 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

38.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

44% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201120122013 →All years

Compared with 2011 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2012South Dakota 2011United States 2012
Deaths13311133,782
Fatal crashes11810131,006
Deaths per 100,000 residents15.913.510.8
Crashes with a drinking driver38%30%31%

Counties in 2012

Every county with a fatal crash in 2012, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 46 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Minnehaha County15167.7149
Pennington County997.8141
Lawrence County7724.380
Oglala Lakota County4752.475
Lincoln County668.056
Custer County4664.331
Union County5528.718
Moody County4576.614
Roberts County4438.930
Bennett County34121.610
Butte County3436.718
Spink County1–2465.58
Brown County338.026
Fall River County3340.825
Jackson County33109.630
Lake County3327.310
Corson County1–2380.114
Jerauld County1–23177.64
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Brookings County1–21–2—24
Campbell County1–21–2—4
Davison County1–21–2—13
Day County1–21–2—6
Gregory County1–21–2—8
McCook County1–21–2—16
Meade County1–21–2—43
Miner County1–21–2—6
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Brule County1–21–2—6
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Codington County1–21–2—31
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hand County1–21–2—5
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Harding County1–21–2—10
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Hutchinson County1–21–2—25
Lyman County1–21–2—21
McPherson County1–21–2—3
Mellette County1–21–2—4
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Stanley County1–21–2—5
Sully County1–21–2—4
Walworth County1–21–2—11

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

12am3.4%
1am0.8%
2am0.8%
3am2.5%
4am2.5%
5am2.5%
6am1.7%
7am4.2%
8am2.5%
9am4.2%
10am2.5%
11am5.1%
12pm9.3%
1pm6.8%
2pm3.4%
3pm5.1%
4pm8.5%
5pm11%
6pm3.4%
7pm5.1%
8pm4.2%
9pm3.4%
10pm5.1%
11pm1.7%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday8%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday16%
Thursday15%
Friday14%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2012?

133 people in 118 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2012 file, or 15.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2012?

Minnehaha County with 16 deaths in 15 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2012 compare with 2011 in South Dakota?

133 deaths against 111 in 2011 (+20%). Nationally the 2012 total was 33,782.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2012 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.