Fatal crashes increased in South Dakota in 2020

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - State officials say the number of fatal traffic accidents increased in South Dakota last year after hitting an all-time low in 2019.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Tony Mangan tells Dakota Radio Group there were 126 fatality-related on South Dakota’s roads and highways in 2020, resulting in the deaths of 135 people.

In 2019, there were 88 fatal crashes that claimed 102 lives.

The number of people killed in motorcycle crashes last year was 27, compared with just 14 in 2019.

2020 saw the highest total crash fatalities in South Dakota since 2014 when officials reported 136 deaths. According to state data dating back to 1990, traffic fatalities peaked in 2003 with 203 deaths. Deaths have been trending downward since the mid-2000s.

Mangan says the numbers for 2020 are still preliminary, and are subject to change.