Fatal Roads

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2018

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2018

Deaths 130Fatal crashes 110Per 100,000 14.8US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 130 people died in 110 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 14.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2017 (129) and 2018 (130).

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.5% 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 (36%).

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

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2018South Dakota 2017United States 2018
Deaths13012936,835
Fatal crashes11011133,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.814.811.3
Crashes with a drinking driver35%35%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 43 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Minnehaha County12136.2149
Pennington County11119.5141
Oglala Lakota County71182.375
Custer County5775.031
Yankton County3729.838
Lincoln County556.656
Meade County5516.243
Lyman County45134.421
Brown County4410.726
Hanson County34115.020
Turner County3444.019
Grant County1–2452.518
Brookings County338.324
Harding County33226.410
Lawrence County3310.480
Roberts County3329.230
Hutchinson County1–2340.525
Bennett County1–21–2—10
Clay County1–21–2—12
Codington County1–21–2—31
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Hand County1–21–2—5
Jackson County1–21–2—30
Deuel County1–21–2—8
McPherson County1–21–2—3
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Beadle County1–21–2—22
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Brule County1–21–2—6
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Corson County1–21–2—14
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Lake County1–21–2—10
McCook County1–21–2—16
Stanley County1–21–2—5
Todd County1–21–2—4
Tripp County1–21–2—13
Union County1–21–2—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

12am1.8%
1am5.5%
2am7.3%
3am0.9%
4am1.8%
5am0%
6am2.8%
7am2.8%
8am3.7%
9am0.9%
10am1.8%
11am11.9%
12pm2.8%
1pm11%
2pm2.8%
3pm8.3%
4pm2.8%
5pm5.5%
6pm3.7%
7pm8.3%
8pm4.6%
9pm0.9%
10pm3.7%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday16%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday9%
Friday11%
Saturday25%

Road type

Other principal arterial36%
Minor arterial17%
Major collector16%
Interstate13%
Local13%
Other freeways and expressways4%
Minor collector1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2018?

130 people in 110 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 14.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Minnehaha County with 13 deaths in 12 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in South Dakota?

130 deaths against 129 in 2017 (+1%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.