STURGIS, S.D. – The Monday rally report from the South Dakota Highway Patrol is in and continues to show an increase in injury accidents over last year.
The good news – there have been no fatalities reported as of yet.
The patrol says there have been 20 injury crashes so far – up 8 from last year at this time. Non-injury crashes remain down from last year – 10 so far this year compared to 13 at this time last year.
After starting the weekend up, D.U.I. arrests are now behind last year’s numbers. The patrol reports 41 D.U.I. arrests through Sunday – 10 behind last year’s 51 on this date.
Felony drug arrests are slightly lower than last year so far – 39 this year, compared to 45 last year. Misdemeanor drug arrests, however, are up 15 over last year on this date. So far, there have been 79 misdemeanor drug arrests compared to 64 last year.
Of the more serious accidents reported over the past 24 hours were a 65-year-old male motorcyclist who wrecked on Vanocker Canyon Road Sunday. The male, who was wearing a helmet, received life-threatening injuries after colliding with a guardrail.
Here is a rundown on accidents from the past 24 hours:
Injury Crashes:
Note: This crash happened Saturday: At 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Whitewood Service Road, three miles east of Whitewood: A 2009 Harley Davidson was westbound on the Whitewood Service Road when the driver lost control while traveling through standing water. The 60-year-old male driver was not wearing a helmet and sustained minor injuries. No charges are pending.
At 9:32 a.m., Sunday, Vanocker Canyon Road, mile marker 11, five miles south of Sturgis: A 2003 Harley Davidson FLH was northbound on Vanocker Canyon Road when the driver failed to negotiate a right hand curve. The vehicle collided with a guardrail. The 66-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, received life-threatening injuries. No charges are pending.
At 10 a.m., Sunday, U.S. Highway 14A, mile marker 44, four miles east of Deadwood: A 2015 Harley Davidson FLHX was eastbound on U.S. Highway 14A when the driver attempted to make a U-turn in a no-passing zone. The motorcycle collided with a westbound 2000 Harley Davidson FXD. The 74-year-old male driver of the FLHX motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and received minor injuries. Charges are pending against him. The 61-year-old female passenger was wearing a helmet and sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. The 69-year-old male driver of the FXD motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and received serious non-life threatening injuries.
At 12:49 p.m., Sunday, North Rochford Road, two miles north of Rochford: A 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle was northbound on North Rochford Road when the driver failed to negotiate a right hand curve. The vehicle went off the roadway and into a ravine. The 73-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. No charges are pending.
At 3:50 p.m., Sunday, Exit 46 westbound off ramp, Piedmont city limits: A 2012 Toyota Camry was stopped at the stop sign at the exit 46 westbound off ramp of Interstate 90, but did not yield the right of way to a 2009 Honda motorcycle eastbound on Elk Creek Road. The vehicle collided with the motorcycle. The 21-year-old female driver of the Toyota was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Charges are pending against her. The 35-year-old female driver of the motorcycle, who was wearing a helmet, suffered minor injuries.
At 4:30 p.m., Sunday, South Dakota Highway 87, mile marker 65, six miles northeast of Custer: A 2007 Harley Davidson Road King was southbound on South Dakota Highway 87 when he failed to maintain his lane and went off the roadway. The 66-year-old male driver, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. No charges are pending.
At 6:24 p.m., Sunday, U.S. Highway 14A, mile marker 52, two miles southwest of Sturgis: A 1992 Harley Davidson FXRP was northbound on U.S. Highway 14A when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle entered the east ditch and the driver was thrown from the motorcycle. The 28-year-old male driver, who was wearing a helmet, suffered minor injuries. No charges are pending.
