The revised unofficial totals from the state Department of Public Safety are 146 fatalities in 2024; 140 in 2023; 137 in 2022; 148 in 2021; and 141 in 2020.
The updated report shows 36 of the fatalities were wearing a seat belt and 53 were not. Seat belt usage isn’t known for 4 of the incidents and isn’t applicable to 53 of the incidents because those involved pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.
In 2024, alcohol played a factor in 47 of the fatalities and speed was a factor in 32 fatalities. South Dakota’s five-year average for annual alcohol related fatalities is 44, while the state averages 36 speed related fatalities.
The DPS Office of Highway Safety says a fatality is considered “crash related” when death occurs within 30 days of a crash.
Because complex crash investigations can delay the official report of fatalities, the numbers for the past month are preliminary and can change considerably.
PIERRE, S.D. – Updated preliminary numbers now show there were six more fatalities on South Dakota’s roadways in 2024 than there were in 2023.
The revised unofficial totals from the state Department of Public Safety are 146 fatalities in 2024; 140 in 2023; 137 in 2022; 148 in 2021; and 141 in 2020.
The updated report shows 36 of the fatalities were wearing a seat belt and 53 were not. Seat belt usage isn’t known for 4 of the incidents and isn’t applicable to 53 of the incidents because those involved pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.
In 2024, alcohol played a factor in 47 of the fatalities and speed was a factor in 32 fatalities. South Dakota’s five-year average for annual alcohol related fatalities is 44, while the state averages 36 speed related fatalities.
The DPS Office of Highway Safety says a fatality is considered “crash related” when death occurs within 30 days of a crash.
Because complex crash investigations can delay the official report of fatalities, the numbers for the past month are preliminary and can change considerably.
