STURGIS, S.D. – a semi truck and trailer went off I-90 just before the I-90, exit 30 westbound off ramp Wednesday afternoon and crashed onto parked cars of an R.C.P. and E. train.
The accident claimed the life of the 70-year-old driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle according to the highway patrol.
The patrol says a 2019 Peterbilt semi and trailer was traveling eastbound on I-90 near mile marker 30. The semi and trailer left the roadway toward the median while crossing a bridge. The combination struck the bridge end and then fell over into the median striking a parked train on the tracks below. Two of the train’s cars derailed.
The crash caused a fire that spread to some nearby grass and Sturgis fire crews were among those responding to put out the flames. Witnesses say some bystanders and members of the nearby National Guard Station helped pull the driver out of the truck.
The 70-year-old male driver of the semi and trailer was taken to Monument Health in Rapid City via life flight with life threatening injuries where he was later pronounced deceased.
The driver was wearing a seatbelt.
The crash ended up closing I-90 westbound for about 20 minutes and I-90 eastbound was closed for about two hours. Once the eastbound side was reopened, crews shut down one lane to work on extracting the truck from below the bridge.
The crash led to a traffic snarl in Sturgis, as westbound and eastbound traffic has to be re-routed through Sturgis.
Several local agencies responded to the crash, including Meade County Sheriff’s Office, Sturgis Police Department, Sturgis Ambulance Service, Sturgis Fire Department and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
photo courtesy Sturgis V.F.D.
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