Fatal Roads

States › South Dakota › 2021

2021

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 2021

Deaths 148Fatal crashes 131Per 100,000 16.5US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 148 people died in 131 fatal crashes in South Dakota, 16.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 141 in 2020 to 148 in 2021.

South Dakota accounted for 0.3% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

36.6% 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 (27%).

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Friday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 2021South Dakota 2020United States 2021
Deaths14814143,230
Fatal crashes13113239,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents16.515.913.0
Crashes with a drinking driver37%38%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, 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
Pennington County232622.4141
Minnehaha County8115.3149
Lawrence County8827.880
Oglala Lakota County7752.475
Butte County5545.918
Custer County5553.631
Jackson County45182.730
Charles Mix County1–2553.527
Buffalo County44219.214
Grant County4452.518
Union County4423.018
McCook County3469.316
Beadle County1–2420.622
Brown County338.026
Codington County3310.231
Jones County33343.213
Meade County339.743
Bennett County1–2391.210
Hutchinson County1–2340.525
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Clay County1–21–2—12
Corson County1–21–2—14
Fall River County1–21–2—25
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Lake County1–21–2—10
Sully County1–21–2—4
Turner County1–21–2—19
Yankton County1–21–2—38
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Tripp County1–21–2—13
Brookings County1–21–2—24
Brule County1–21–2—6
Clark County1–21–2—5
Day County1–21–2—6
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Lincoln County1–21–2—56
McPherson County1–21–2—3
Miner County1–21–2—6
Moody County1–21–2—14
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Roberts County1–21–2—30
Spink County1–21–2—8
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

12am3.1%
1am3.8%
2am0.8%
3am3.1%
4am1.5%
5am0.8%
6am3.8%
7am4.6%
8am2.3%
9am3.8%
10am3.8%
11am6.9%
12pm5.4%
1pm8.5%
2pm4.6%
3pm6.9%
4pm4.6%
5pm5.4%
6pm6.9%
7pm3.8%
8pm6.9%
9pm0.8%
10pm3.8%
11pm3.8%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday10%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday10%
Thursday15%
Friday21%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial27%
Major collector22%
Minor arterial21%
Interstate14%
Local9%
Other freeways and expressways5%
Minor collector3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 2021?

148 people in 131 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 16.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Pennington County with 26 deaths in 23 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in South Dakota?

148 deaths against 141 in 2020 (+5%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.