RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police and South Dakota Highway Patrol were on scene of what they called a major 2-car crash on Highway 16 Tuesday afternoon.
The accident was reported between Bear Country and Reptile Gardens.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol says a 78-year-old woman driving a 2010 Buick La Cross was heading eastbound on Highway 16 when she veered right hitting a guard rail.
The Patrol said the car crossed the median hitting a 2017 Santa Fe Sport driven by a 66-year old man with a 65-year old female passenger.
The Patrol says the two in the Santa Fe Sport were wearing their seatbelts and taken to the hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Buick was not wearing a seatbelt and taken to the hospital with serious life-threatening injuries.
The crash initially closed down both lanes of travel, but crews were able to open up one lane during clean up.
The accident was under investigation.
It is the second crash within the past 24 hours on Highway 16.
Four people were hurt in a Memorial Day crash on the highway.
The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department say the crash happened Monday afternoon.
Officials say 2 dogs and 2 bunnies were also involved in the crash, but were O.K. and cared for by Highway Patrol.
