STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol says this year’s rally numbers continue to remain right in line with last year.
In their Wednesday Rally Report, the patrol says accidents remain up slightly over last year. The number of injury accidents is now 33, compared to 28 last year on this date; and non-injury accidents are at 31, up from 23 at this time last year.
Among the accidents yesterday was a crash in Deadwood that resulted in life-threatening injuries to a 36-year-old female.
The crash happened on Highway 14A when a Harley Davidson was attempting to turn left at a controlled intersection. The motorcycle did not yield to a westbound Harley Davidson and the two motorcycles collided. The female driver of the westbound motorcycle suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. She was not wearing a helmet. The patrol says charges are pending against both drivers.
Elsewhere, the patrol says D.U.I. arrests and drug arrests remain slight lower than last year. D.U.I. arrests total 82, down from 97 on this date last year. Misdemeanor drug arrests are the same as last year at 128 and felony drug arrests are down two at 71.
Here is a rundown on injury crashes from the past 24 hours:
Injury Crashes:
At 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, near the intersection of Whitewood Valley Road and Crackerjack Road, two miles north of Whitewood: A 2020 Indian Challenger motorcycle was northbound on Whitewood Valley Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle went into the east ditch and the driver was thrown from the motorcycle. The 70-year-old male, who was wearing a helmet, received minor injuries. Charges are pending.
At 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, U.S. Highway 14A, mile marker 14, three miles east of Spearfish: A 2008 Harley Davidson FLHX motorcycle was eastbound on U.S. Highway 14A when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve. The 48-year-male driver, who was wearing a helmet, suffered minor injuries. No charges are pending.
At 4:02 p.m. Tuesday, U.S. Highway 14A, mile marker 42, within the city of Deadwood: A 2020 Harley Davidson FLHX was turning left at the controlled intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 85 in Deadwood. The motorcycle did not yield to a westbound 2000 Harley Davidson FLHX. The two motorcycles collided. The 48-year-old male driver of the 2020 Harley Davidson was wearing a helmet and sustained minor injuries. The 36-year-old female driver of the 2000 Harley Davidson was not wearing a helmet and suffered life threatening injuries. Charges are pending against both drivers.
At 4:10 p.m., Tuesday, Wildlife Loop Road, mile marker nine, 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 16: A 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle was southbound on Wildlife Loop Road when the driver lost control after the motorcycle hit a bump in the road. Both occupants were thrown from the motorcycle. The 58-year-old driver, who was not wearing a helmet, received serious non-life threatening injuries. The 14-year-old female passenger, who was wearing a helmet, was not injured.
At 6:52 p.m., Tuesday, Interstate 90, mile marker 164, one mile east of Belvidere: A 2000 Dodge Durango was westbound on Interstate 90 when the driver failed to negotiate a lane change at the end of a construction zone. The vehicle came to rest in the median. The 50-year-old male driver, who was wearing a seat belt, received minor injuries. Charges are pending against him. A 34-year-old male passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained minor injuries. A second male passenger, age unknown, suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.
