US 18 in South Dakota: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 53 fatal crashes on US 18 in South Dakota killed 65 people, the 2nd most of 64 numbered roads in South Dakota. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 11 counties of South Dakota. All fatal crashes in South Dakota.
Deaths on US 18 in South Dakota by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 |
| 2022 | 10 | 14 |
| 2021 | 6 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 | 12 | 14 |
| 2017 | 1 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 | 6 |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 18 in South Dakota: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Shannon County had the most fatal crashes on US 18 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 25 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shannon County | 0 | 19 | 25 |
| 2 | Fall River County | 2 | 12 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 18 in South Dakota
53 fatal crashes on US 18 in 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 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 9.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.8%
- Feb1.9%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr7.5%
- May20.8%
- Jun5.7%
- Jul13.2%
- Aug7.5%
- Sep3.8%
- Oct9.4%
- Nov11.3%
- Dec7.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 18 in South Dakota first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a rollover in 26%, a pedestrian in 21%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 9.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 21 | 40% |
| Rollover | 14 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 21% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 5 | 9.4% |
| Other | 2 | 3.8% |
| 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 on US 18 in South Dakota compare with the state
The largest difference from South Dakota: from 2015 to 2024, 84% of occupants killed on US 18 in South Dakota were unbelted, against 66% across South Dakota. Also above the South Dakota share: rural roads, unlit roads at night, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. 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 53 crashes.
| US 18 | South Dakota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 98% | 82% | above the South Dakota share |
| At or near an intersection | 15% | 19% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 43% | 31% | above the South Dakota share |
| A drinking driver | 45% | 35% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Speeding | 28% | 27% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.8% | 5.9% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 84% | 66% | above the South Dakota share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.5% | 1.8% | above the South Dakota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.4% | 19% | about the same as the South Dakota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 7.7% | above 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 on US 18 in South Dakota
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 18 in South Dakota?
- 53 fatal crashes killed 65 people on US 18 in South Dakota from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 18 in South Dakota do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Shannon County had the most fatal crashes on US 18 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 25 deaths. Fall River County was second with 12.
Other roads in South Dakota with a page
All fatal crashes in South Dakota, with every road ranked.
Where the US 18 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 18 in South Dakota (filed under 2 spellings, such as "US-18", "US-18 W"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.