Fatal Roads

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2016

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2016

Deaths 116Fatal crashes 103Per 100,000 13.4US deaths 37,806

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 2016.

In 2016, 116 people died in 103 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 13.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.7 nationally.

The death toll fell 13% from 134 in 2015 to 116 in 2016.

South Dakota accounted for 0.3% of the 37,806 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

41.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on major collector roads (28%).

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201520162017 →All years

Compared with 2015 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2016South Dakota 2015United States 2016
Deaths11613437,806
Fatal crashes10311634,748
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.415.711.7
Crashes with a drinking driver42%35%27%

Counties in 2016

Every county with a fatal crash in 2016, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 44 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Oglala Lakota County914104.875
Pennington County10108.6141
Lawrence County91034.780
Minnehaha County994.3149
Roberts County5548.630
Brookings County3411.024
Meade County3412.943
Lincoln County334.056
Lyman County3380.621
Walworth County3356.911
Yankton County3312.838
Hyde County1–23246.95
Jackson County1–23109.630
Bon Homme County1–2342.416
Butte County1–21–2—18
Campbell County1–21–2—4
Codington County1–21–2—31
Custer County1–21–2—31
Davison County1–21–2—13
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Turner County1–21–2—19
Union County1–21–2—18
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Brown County1–21–2—26
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Clark County1–21–2—5
Clay County1–21–2—12
Corson County1–21–2—14
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Grant County1–21–2—18
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hand County1–21–2—5
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Jones County1–21–2—13
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
Lake County1–21–2—10
Marshall County1–21–2—8
Potter County1–21–2—4
Spink County1–21–2—8
Todd County1–21–2—4
Tripp County1–21–2—13

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

12am5.9%
1am2%
2am2%
3am2.9%
4am2%
5am1%
6am2%
7am3.9%
8am1%
9am3.9%
10am3.9%
11am6.9%
12pm2.9%
1pm2%
2pm9.8%
3pm5.9%
4pm2.9%
5pm5.9%
6pm8.8%
7pm7.8%
8pm3.9%
9pm5.9%
10pm2.9%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday16%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Road type

Major collector28%
Other principal arterial25%
Local16%
Interstate12%
Minor arterial11%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2016?

116 people in 103 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2016 file, or 13.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2016?

Oglala Lakota County with 14 deaths in 9 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2016 compare with 2015 in South Dakota?

116 deaths against 134 in 2015 (+-13%). Nationally the 2016 total was 37,806.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2016 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.