FORT PIERRE — A recent report by South Dakota NewsWatch shows nearly 11-billion pounds of chemicals are hauled on South Dakota railroads each year. The report also highlights since 2012 more than 110 rail accidents, including derailments in the state. Twelve of the derailments have happened in central South Dakota. The largest was 18 cars in Jones County in September of 2022 on the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern line. In Brule County in 2017, 17 cars derailed on the former Mitchell to Rapid City line. The Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern line has seen nine derailments from Wessington to Philip from 2017 to 2022. The largest was 17 cars in Hand County at Wessington in February of 2019. Eight cars derailed near Harrold in June of 2020 after workers saw a misaligned track. That derailment was due in part to soft ground caused by a muskrat den. Two derailments have occurred in Hughes, Haakon Lyman and Jones County with one each in Stanley, Sully Brule and Hand. A total 93 cars were derailed in all of the incidents.
