STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has reported two rally-related fatalities in their latest report.
One of the fatal crashes was due to a multi-vehicle crash that occurred just past I-90’s Exit 37 Sunday.
The patrol says a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling westbound braked for an unknown reason causing a 2003 Chevy Express Van to strike the rear end.
A 2003 Harley Davidson equipped with a side car, also traveling westbound, was unable to avoid the collision and struck the Chevy van.
A 2023 Harley Davidson then struck the debris and crashed.
The 54-year-old female passenger of the 2003 Harley Davidson was pronounced dead at the scene. All other individuals involved received serious non-life-threatening and minor injuries.
The occupants of the 2003 Harley Davidson and 2021 Harley Davidson were wearing helmets. The occupants of the 2023 Harley Davidson were not wearing helmets.
In a separate crash, the patrol a 41-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash on U.S. Highway 14A, at mile marker 43. The patrol says a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound, failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, entered the north ditch, and tumbled. The driver was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In all, there were 21 injury crashes reported Sunday, along with 16 non-injury accidents.
Aside from accidents, the patrol reports 36 D-U-I arrests, 46 misdemeanor drug arrests and 17 felony drug arrests. They have doled out 365 citations so far.
Here is a synopsis of Sunday’s injury crashes:
Injury Crashes:
At 7:55am, Sunday, US Highway 83, mile marker 35: a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe was traveling northbound, entered the west ditch and hit a fence line. The vehicle traveled down the fence line and struck a pole. All passengers were wearing seatbelts. The driver and front seat passenger received serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 9:34am, Sunday, US Highway 16A, mile marker 51: A 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling southbound and drove over debris in the roadway while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle lost control and entered the east ditch. The driver was wearing a helmet and sustained minor injuries.
At 12:27pm, Sunday, South Dakota Highway 34, and Interstate 90 Exit 23: A 2023 Polaris Slingshot was traveling southbound on Interstate 90 Exit 23 overpass. The Polaris turned left to enter the interstate. A 2008 Suzuki motorcycle was traveling northbound and applied its brakes to avoid a collision with the Polaris. The Suzuki lost control and crashed. Occupants of the Polaris were wearing seatbelts and did not receive injuries. The driver of the Suzuki was not wearing a helmet and received serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 12:45pm, Sunday, South Dakota Highway 20, mile marker 53.7: At 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound. The motorcycle struck an antelope in the roadway. The motorcycle left the roadway and entered the south ditch. The driver was not wearing a helmet and received serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 12:49pm, Sunday, US Highway 385, mile marker 86: a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling southbound. The driver lost control for unknown reasons and separated from the motorcycle. The driver was wearing a helmet and received minor injuries.
At 1:41pm, Sunday, US Highway 16A, mile marker 24: A 2016 Victory motorcycle was traveling eastbound and struck a deer. The motorcycle tipped and slid off the roadway causing the driver to separate from the motorcycle. The driver was not wearing a helmet and received serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 2:10pm, Sunday, South Dakota Highway 89, mile marker 73: A 2022 Indian motorcycle was traveling southbound, crossed the road, and entered the north ditch striking some rocks. The driver was separated from the motorcycle and the motorcycle traveled back into the northbound lanes. A 2016 Harley Davidson then struck the unoccupied Indian motorcycle. The driver of the Indian motorcycle was wearing a helmet and received serious non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Harley Davidson was not wearing a helmet and received minor injuries.
At 2:24pm, Sunday, US Highway 16, mile marker 32: A 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound in the right lane. A passenger car entered the motorcycle’s lane, striking the side of the motorcycle. The motorcycle left the roadway, and the driver was separated from the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was wearing a helmet and received serous non-life-threatening injuries.
At 2:33pm, Sunday, Old Hill City Road, and Lafferty Gulch Road: A 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling east bound. A deer ran out in front of the motorcycle causing the driver to lose control and separate from the motorcycle. The driver was wearing a helmet and sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 2:59pm, Sunday, South Dakota Highway 87, mile marker 70: A 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle was southbound and failed to negotiate a right hand curve colliding with a parked 2023 Nissan Rogue. The driver of the motorcycle was wearing a helmet and received serious non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Nissan was not injured.
At 3:00pm, Sunday, US Highway 16A and Sylvan Lake Road: A 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle and 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle were traveling westbound. The 2014 Harley Davidson struck a deer in the roadway. The 2009 Harley Davidson was unable to avoid collision and struck the rear of the 2014 Harley Davidson. Both drivers were not wearing helmets and receive minor injuries.
At 3:37pm, Sunday, South Dakota Highway 87, mile marker 54: A 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle was stopped on the shoulder of the road. The driver attempted to start the motorcycle and the back tire caught the dirt and slid into the ditch. The driver was wearing a helmet and received minor injuries.
At 3:38pm, Sunday, Playhouse Road, and Grayhound Gulch Road: A 2016 Harley Davidson was traveling southbound, failed to negotiate the curved and collided with a 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The driver of the 2016 Harley Davidson was not wearing a helmet and received minor injuries. The driver and passenger on the 2020 Harley Davidson were wearing helmets and received serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 4:41pm, Sunday, Lazelle Street and Exit 30 Interstate 90 on ramp: A 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle and 2018 Chevy Malibu were stopped at the stoplight. The light turned green and both units continued northbound. An unknown motorcycle stopped in the intersection causing the Chevy to stop abruptly. The Harley Davidson struck the rear end of the Chevy. The driver of the Harley Davidson was not wearing a helmet and received minor injuries. The driver of the Chevy was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
At 5:40pm, Sunday, US Highway 85, mile marker 7: A 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound, failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, and struck a 2015 Ford Explorer. The driver of the Harley Davidson was wearing a helmet and received minor injuries. The driver of the Ford was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
At 6:25pm, Sunday, US Highway 16, and US Highway 16B: A 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound, slowed and entered the eastbound turn lane. The motorcycle entered the off ramp and lost traction causing the driver and passenger to become separated from the motorcycle. The driver and passenger were wearing helmets. The driver was not injured, the passenger received minor injuries.
