STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has reported the first two motorcycle fatalities of this year’s Rally.
The two fatal accidents happened Monday morning.
The first crash happened when a 2013 Toyota Tacoma that had just exited off I-90 and attempted to pull onto Highway 85 pulled out in front of a motorcycle traveling on U.S. Highway 85.
The two vehicles collided and the driver of the motorcycle received fatal injuries. The driver of the Tacoma was not hurt.
In the second crash, a motorcyclist was killed after crashing while attempting to avoid another motorcycle that had crossed the center line on Nemo Road. The motorcyclist who crossed the center line struck the driver of the other motorcycle and then crashed as well. That driver received life threatening injuries.
Both accidents are under investigation by the highway patrol.
As for injury crashes, the highway patrol reported four yesterday sending the total number of injury crashes on the year to 18. Non-injury crashes total 19.
Other totals include 69 D.U.I. arrests, 133 misdemeanor drug arrests and 75 felony drug arrests. Drug arrests remain up over the year while D.U.I. arrests remain slightly down.
Here is a synopsis of yesterday’s injury crashes:
On 08/05/2024 at 11:12 a.m., a 2000 Harley Davidson FLHTCI was traveling northbound on Vanocker Canyon Road Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The driver separated from the motorcycle as it entered the ditch, causing serious non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was wearing a helmet.
On 08/05/2024 at 3:22 p.m., a red 2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide was traveling west on SD 87 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the motorcycle. The motorcycle overturned and slid across the centerline. A black 2022 Road Glide was traveling east on SD 87. The driver of the black Road Glide was able to stop, prior to the sliding motorcycle striking it. The driver and passenger of the red Road Glide received serious non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the black Road Glide was uninjured. Neither driver nor the passenger was wearing a helmet.
On 08/05/2024 at 4:01 p.m., a 2016 Harley Davidson Touring motorcycle was traveling eastbound on US 16A when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The driver and passenger were separated from the motorcycle as it entered the ditch, causing minor injuries to both occupants. The driver was not wearing a helmet. The passenger was wearing a helmet.
On 08/05/2024 at 5:42 p.m., a 2022 Harley Davidson FLHX was traveling east on Old Hill City Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The driver separated from the motorcycle as it entered the ditch, causing minor injuries. The driver was not wearing a helmet.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating these crashes. All information released so far is only preliminary.
