States › South Dakota › 2017
South Dakota in 2017
Deaths 129Fatal crashes 111Per 100,000 14.8US deaths 37,473
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 2017.
In 2017, 129 people died in 111 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 14.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.
The death toll rose 11% from 116 in 2016 to 129 in 2017.
South Dakota accounted for 0.3% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.
35.1% 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 other principal arterial roads (23%).
37% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Tuesday was the most common day.
Compared with 2016 and the nation
| Measure | South Dakota 2017 | South Dakota 2016 | United States 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 129 | 116 | 37,473 |
| Fatal crashes | 111 | 103 | 34,560 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents | 14.8 | 13.4 | 11.5 |
| Crashes with a drinking driver | 35% | 42% | 27% |
Counties in 2017
Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 41 counties listed.
| County | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Per 100,000 | Deaths 2015–2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | 17 | 17 | 14.7 | 141 |
| Minnehaha County | 11 | 12 | 5.8 | 149 |
| Oglala Lakota County | 5 | 11 | 82.3 | 75 |
| Lawrence County | 8 | 8 | 27.8 | 80 |
| Yankton County | 6 | 6 | 25.5 | 38 |
| Lincoln County | 4 | 6 | 8.0 | 56 |
| Jackson County | 1–2 | 6 | 219.2 | 30 |
| Roberts County | 4 | 5 | 48.6 | 30 |
| Brookings County | 3 | 3 | 8.3 | 24 |
| Charles Mix County | 3 | 3 | 32.1 | 27 |
| Grant County | 3 | 3 | 39.4 | 18 |
| Hughes County | 3 | 3 | 17.1 | 11 |
| Meade County | 3 | 3 | 9.7 | 43 |
| Butte County | 1–2 | 3 | 27.5 | 18 |
| Beadle County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 22 |
| Codington County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 31 |
| Corson County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 14 |
| Fall River County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 25 |
| Harding County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 10 |
| Kingsbury County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 9 |
| Lake County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 10 |
| McCook County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 16 |
| Spink County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 8 |
| Turner County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 19 |
| Edmunds County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 12 |
| Jerauld County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 4 |
| Jones County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 13 |
| Brown County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 26 |
| Custer County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 31 |
| Davison County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 13 |
| Day County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 6 |
| Dewey County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 9 |
| Hanson County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 20 |
| Marshall County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 8 |
| Moody County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 14 |
| Perkins County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 2 |
| Potter County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 4 |
| Sanborn County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 8 |
| Sully County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 4 |
| Todd County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 4 |
| Union County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 18 |
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
Weekday
Road type
Questions and answers
How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2017?
129 people in 111 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 14.8 per 100,000 residents.
Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2017?
Pennington County with 17 deaths in 17 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.
How did 2017 compare with 2016 in South Dakota?
129 deaths against 116 in 2016 (+11%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.
Provenance
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.