South Dakota car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in South Dakota by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 114 in 2020 to 123 in 2021, then fell to 116 in 2022, 111 in 2023 and 106 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 8 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all South Dakota traffic deaths attributed to these crashes was 80.9% in 2020, 83.1% in 2021, 84.7% in 2022, 79.3% in 2023 and 72.6% in 2024. South Dakota's share of the national car accident death total was 0.3% in each year. For the full period, the state accounted for 0.3% of the national total of 176,219 deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in South Dakota car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 451 deaths, or 79.1% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 60 deaths and 10.5%, while Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 59 deaths and 10.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes are counted in each category. FARS classification determines the Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label, rather than a literal check of whether a person was outside a vehicle. Occupants of parked motor vehicles can be included in that grouping.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Car accident deaths by manner of collision were Angle (side impact), 134 (23.5%); Head-on, 79 (13.9%); Rear-end, 43 (7.5%); and Sideswipe, 13 (2.3%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 301 (52.8%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 313 deaths (54.9%), nighttime for 252 (44.2%), and unknown time for 5 (0.9%). Urban deaths numbered 118 (20.7%); rural deaths numbered 452 (79.3%). These describe deaths in the selected crashes from 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Minnehaha County had the most car accident deaths, with 77, followed by Pennington County with 52, Lincoln County with 33 and Lawrence County with 23. Hutchinson County, Meade County and Charles Mix County each recorded 19 deaths. Codington County had 17, Brown County 15, Fall River County 14 and Custer County 13. Yankton County and Oglala Lakota County each had 12, followed by Roberts County with 11 and McCook County with 10.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Death counts and population-based rates describe different measures. Among the listed counties, Hutchinson County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 51.4, while Minnehaha County had the lowest at 7.6. These rate rankings apply only to the listed counties. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How South Dakota compares with the national rate

South Dakota's car accident death rate was 12.6, compared with the national rate of 10.5. Both figures measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The state rate was higher than the national rate; the corresponding death counts were 570 for South Dakota and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The calculation divides deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, then multiplies by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. South Dakota's separately reported 2024 population estimate of 927,110 is not the denominator used for this rate. When reading these figures during a car accident lawyer search, keep the crash-location counts distinct from the population-based rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. State and county counts follow crash location, not the home addresses of those killed.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 figures use the Annual Report File and may change with the Final File. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 to express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors; the separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not their denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File