STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has reported the third fatality of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The patrol says it was a 55-year-old woman who died of injuries sustained in a Wednesday crash east of Hill City. The accident happened when a motorcycle struck a calf standing in the driving lane of U.S. Highway 16. The woman was a passenger on the bike. The driver, a 55-year-old male, was seriously hurt.
Meanwhile, the patrol released the names of the people killed in a crash in Boulder Canyon on Monday.
The accident occurred when a motorcycle traveling west failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line and crashed into two motorcycles traveling eastbound.
Killed in the crash were 22-year-old William Cooper of College Station, Texas and 55-year-old Ronald Ratzel of Ceres, New York. Cooper was the driver of the motorcycle that lost control and entered the eastbound lane, striking the motorcycle being driven by Ratzel. The patrol says helmets were not being used.
Accidents overall remain up over last year. In their latest Rally Report, the patrol says there have been 47 injury accidents and 39 non-injury accidents through Thursday. Those numbers are up 5 and 7 respectively over last year.
Drug arrests remain up, but D.U.I. arrests are down. Felony drug arrests total 112 through Thursday and D.U.I. arrests are at 117.
Inside Sturgis city limits, Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater reports drug arrests remain up over last year as do accidents. VanDewater reports 90 misdemeanor drugs arrests and 34 felony arrests.
Non-traffic arrests are also up over last year – 205 compared to 136 last year at this time.
