South Dakota
The share of fatal crashes involving teen drivers is higher in South Dakota than most other states
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The share of fatal crashes involving a teen driver is higher in South Dakota than in almost any other state.
The state has the ninth-highest percentage of deadly crashes involving a teen driver at 16.4%, according to a recent analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data by Bumper, a vehicle history report website.
The analysis found that, nationwide, the number of people who died in crashes involving teen drivers has increased by 25% since 2013. In 2023, a total of 5,588 people died in crashes involving a teen driver, including passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and other drivers.
It also determined that while teen drivers account for only 5.1% of all licensed drivers in the country, they represent 8.9% of drivers in fatal crashes.
South Dakota had a total of 146 traffic crash fatalities in 2024, up from 140 in 2023 and 137 in 2022, according to the state Department of Public Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 39,345 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024, about a 4% decrease from 2023.
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What states had the highest teen involvement in fatal crashes?
These states had the highest percentage of crash deaths involving a teen driver.
- Kansas, 18.9%
- Utah, 17.9%
- Idaho, 17.5%
- Montana, 17.3%
- Wisconsin, 17%
- Missouri, 16.9%
- Indiana, 16.8%
- Colorado, 16.5%
- South Dakota, 16.4%
- New Mexico, 15.8%
What states had the lowest teen involvement in fatal crashes?
These states had the lowest percentage of crash deaths involving a teen driver.
- District of Columbia, 4.5%
- New Hampshire, 6.2%
- Hawaii, 6.5%
- Wyoming, 8.3%
- North Dakota, 8.5%
- Vermont, 8.7%
- Connecticut, 10.10%
- Oregon, 10.4%
- Maine, 10.4%
- Maryland, 10.5%
South Dakota
Republican businessman Toby Doeden advances to primary runoff in South Dakota governor’s race
Republican businessman Toby Doeden has advanced to a runoff in South Dakota governor’s race, NBC News projects.
Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced Kristi Noem last year when President Donald Trump nominated her to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was battling with Rep. Dusty Johnson and former state House Speaker Jon Hansen for a second spot in the July 28 runoff. The primary will go to a runoff because no candidate eclipsed 35% of the vote.
Trump did not issue an endorsement in the race. Doeden branded himself on his campaign website as “a total political outsider who’s tired of the government’s failure to deliver on its promises” and one of Trump’s “fiercest supporters.”
Rhoden, a former lieutenant governor, agriculture secretary and lawmaker, campaigned on property tax cuts and lowering crime in his bid for a four-year term.
Johnson is the state’s lone representative in the House, where he previously was chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus. Hansen, who was elected to the South Dakota House in 2010, held several leadership positions before he became speaker.
The Republican nominee will be the favorite to win the general election in the solidly red state this fall. A Democrat has not served as governor in South Dakota since the 1970s, and Trump carried the state by 29 points in 2024.
News
Agronomist: eastern South Dakota crops hit and miss
An agronomist in eastern South Dakota says corn and soybeans are hit and miss as the growing season begins.
Steven Zemlicka with AgTegra Cooperative tells Brownfield, “We’ve got corn anywhere from V1 all the way up to V4. Biggest stuff’s maybe touching V5. Corn’s coming right along, looks pretty good. A little bit of hail here too, but I don’t think it’s going to be much of an issue. Stands for the most part are pretty good, pretty solid.”
Zemlicka says soybean emergence has been slow due to the wet, cool conditions, and there are a few fields that still need planted.
“People were still working on planting soybeans when we got the recent rain.”
He says recent rain totals ranged from a half inch to as much as four inches in the northeast part of South Dakota; the southern part of the state has been drier.
South Dakota’s corn is rated 61 percent good to excellent, with soybean conditions rated 57 percent good to excellent, according to USDA’s first condition ratings of the season.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The South Dakota Community Foundation is encouraging nonprofits to apply for funding this June.
Beth Massa and Ginger Niemann joined us live with what you need to know before applying.
Watch the full interview above.
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