STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol reported two more fatalities in their latest Rally update.
One of the fatalities was due to an accident Friday. The other was the result of an accident that happened on Monday, August 10.
In Friday’s crash, the patrol says a 1981 Harley Davidson XLH motorcycle was northbound on Sturgis Road in Piedmont when it was struck by a southbound 2019 Chevrolet Equinox that had crossed the centerline. The 64-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Helmet use is under investigation. John Gonzalez of Summerset was the 47-year-old driver of the Equinox. He received minor injuries and seat belt use is under investigation. Charges are pending against him.
The other fatality was a 56-year-old man who died from injuries sustained in a crash August 10. Thomas Parins of Green Bay, WI was driving a 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage eastbound on U.S. Highway 16A in Custer State Park when he failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle went into the south ditch and he was thrown from the motorcycle. The driver was not wearing a helmet and suffered life-threatening injuries. He died Friday in a Rapid City hospital.
In all, there have now been 5 people killed at this year’s rally in crashes.
The patrol says there have been 55 injury crashes and 43 non-injury crashes. Those numbers are up over last year.
D.U.I. arrests were at 133 in Saturday’s report – down from last year. Drug arrests remain up. The patrol reports 119 felony drug arrests and 220 misdmeanor drug arrests.
Here is a rundown on injury crashes from Friday:
Injury Crashes
At 12: 16 p.m. Friday, South Dakota Highway 34, mile marker 14, three miles east of Belle Fourche: A 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle was eastbound on South Dakota Highway 34 when the driver lost control and the motorcycle tipped over. The 63-year-old male, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered life-threatening injuries. No charges are pending.
At 1:03 p.m., Friday, Baseline Road, entering Wasta: A 2007 Harley Davidson FLHT motorcycle was northbound on Baseline Road when the driver lost control entering a curve. The motorcycle went off the roadway. Both the 49-year-old male driver and 46-year-old female passenger received minor injuries. Both occupants were wearing helmets. No charges are pending.
At 2:07 p.m., Friday, Interstate 90, mile marker 83, five miles east of New Underwood: A 2006 Peterbilt 379 tractor trailer with double trailers hauling round hay bales was westbound on Interstate 90 when one of the hay bales fell onto the roadway. A 2006 Harley Davidson FLGTI motorcycle, which was northbound behind the tractor trailer, hit the hay bale. The motorcycle went into the median. The motorcycle’s 53-year-old male driver and 53-year-old female driver were both wearing helmets and both suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. The 34-year-old male driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. Charges are pending against him.
At 2:55 p.m., Friday, U.S. Highway 14A, mile marker 25, two miles south of Savoy: A 2019 Harley Davidson trike was turning south onto U.S. Highway 14A when it was cut off by another motorcycle. The driver of the trike lost control. The 58-year-old male driver of the trike was not wearing a helmet and suffered minor injuries.
At 5:49 p.m., Friday, U.S. Highway 385, 10 miles south of Deadwood: A 2019 Chevrolet Suburban was northbound on U.S. Highway 385 when the driver was forced to make a sudden stop when a vehicle ahead of it turned quickly onto Nemo Road. A northbound 2006 Yamaha XVZ13 motorcycle then rear-ended the suburban. The 45-year-old male driver of the suburban was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. The 45-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and was not injured. The 44-year-old female passenger of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. No charges are pending.
At 6:37 p.m., Friday, Interstate 90, mile marker 132, 18 miles west of Kadoka: A 1998 Harley Davidson FLHRCI motorcycle was eastbound on Interstate 90 when the rear tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control. Both occupants were thrown from the motorcycle. The 59-year-old male driver received minor injuries and the 52-year-old female passenger sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. Both were wearing helmets. No charges are pending.
At 11:35 p.m., Friday, Third and Main Street, within Sturgis: Sturgis Police had been pursuing a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu when the vehicle hit a barricade and collided with six parked motorcycles. The 38-year-old male driver was wearing a seat belt and received minor injuries. Charges are pending. The Highway Patrol investigated the crash at the request of Sturgis Police.
