STURGIS, S.D. – As the 82nd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rides out of town, the South Dakota Highway Patrol released their final ‘Rally Tally’ Sunday.
The patrol reported no fatal crashes over the past 24 hour reporting period, so the number of fatalities remained at 3. However, with several motorcycle crashes that resulted in life-threatening injuries over the past week, that number could go up.
The year finished with 50 injury crashes, including six that occurred on Saturday. Three of those crashes resulted in serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The patrol also reported 45 non-injury crashes for the year. Both injury and non-injury crashes were lower than last year.
There were 148 D-U-I arrests – ahead of last year’s 122 total. Felony drug arrests totaled 103 – slightly down from last year’s 112.
Misdemeanor drug arrests totaled 148 – down three from 2021.
In all, the patrol handed out 1,430 citations and 5,288 warnings.
Here is a synopsis of Saturday’s injury crashes:
At 8:53 a.m., Saturday, Crook City Road, 12 miles west of Sturgis: A 2006 Harley-Davidson FLXHS Street Glide motorcycle was southbound on Crook City Road when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle crossed the centerline and into the east ditch. The 67-year-old female driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Spearfish hospital. She was wearing a helmet.
At 11:24 a.m., Saturday, U.S. Highway 85, mile marker 89, 43 miles north of Belle Fourche: A 2003 Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle was northbound on U.S. Highway 85 when the rear tire blew, causing the driver to lose control. The 68-year-old male was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. He was airlifted to the Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
At 12:33 p.m., Saturday, Vanocker Canyon Road, mile marker 12, six miles southeast of Sturgis: A 2016 Indian Chieftain motorcycle was traveling on Vanocker Canyon Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle went into the ditch. The 62-year-old male driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Sturgis hospital. He was wearing a helmet.
At 1:39 p.m., Saturday, eastbound off ramp of exit 30, Interstate 90: A 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup rear-ended a Jeep Wrangler, which had been stopped at the red light. The 38-year-old male driver of the pickup and the 36-year-old female passenger were not injured. The 20-year-old male driver of the Jeep and the 21-year-old female passenger both received minor injuries and were transported to the Sturgis hospital.
At 2:15 p.m., Saturday, South Dakota Highway 79, mile marker 62, near Hermosa: A 2009 Ford F-150 pickup was northbound on South Dakota Highway 79 when it collided with the rear passenger door of a northbound 2002 Chevrolet Van. The pickup rolled onto its passenger side and the van was pushed to the southbound shoulder. The 70-year-old male driver of the pickup received minor injuries and was not transported. The 78-year-old female driver of the van sustained serious non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the Rapid City hospital. Both were wearing seatbelts.
At 7:55 p.m., near intersection of Junction Avenue and Anna Street, within Sturgis city limits: A 2005 Yamaha motorcycle struck a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup. Both occupants of the motorcycle were thrown from the motorcycle. Both the 42-year-old male driver and the 41-year-old female passenger received serious non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the Sturgis hospital. Neither wore a helmet. The 18-year-old female driver of the pickup was not injured. She was wearing a seatbelt.
