Fatal crashes in Lincoln County, South Dakota
In 2024, 8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Lincoln County, South Dakota, down from 11 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 50 fatal crashes and 56 deaths, the 4th most of 67 counties in South Dakota.
Deaths in Lincoln County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 | 11 |
| 2022 | 9 | 10 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Lincoln County
The 1 road listed held 18% of all fatal crashes in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate. 46% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 54% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-29 | 9 | 10 | 4 |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Sioux Falls 8. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Lincoln County
50 fatal crashes in Lincoln County, South Dakota from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 1 pm to 2 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.0%
- Feb8.0%
- Mar4.0%
- Apr8.0%
- May6.0%
- Jun6.0%
- Jul14.0%
- Aug4.0%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct16.0%
- Nov6.0%
- Dec16.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Lincoln County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a rollover in 18%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a pedestrian in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 25 | 50% |
| Rollover | 9 | 18% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 9 | 18% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 8.0% |
| Other | 3 | 6.0% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Lincoln County compare with South Dakota
The largest difference from South Dakota: from 2015 to 2024, 40% of fatal crashes in Lincoln County were at or near an intersection, against 19% across South Dakota. Below the South Dakota share: rural roads and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Dakota. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 50 crashes.
| Lincoln | South Dakota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 70% | 82% | below the South Dakota share |
| At or near an intersection | 40% | 19% | above the South Dakota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 31% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 35% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Speeding | 36% | 27% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.0% | 5.9% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 51% | 66% | below the South Dakota share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.0% | 1.8% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 19% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.1% | 7.7% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Lincoln County, South Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in Lincoln County in 2024?
- 8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Lincoln County, South Dakota, in 2024, down from 11 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Lincoln County involved a drinking driver?
- 13 of 50 fatal crashes in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 35% across South Dakota.
Other counties in South Dakota with a page
All fatal crashes in South Dakota, with every county ranked.
Where the Lincoln County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Lincoln County (county code 83). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/south-dakota/lincoln-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”