STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released their Wednesday Rally Statistics report.
No new fatalities were reported, but they did update one that occurred on Saturday near Wall.
The patrol says 36-year-old Trisha Nelson of Rapid City died after the motorcycle she was riding crashed on I-90 at mile marker 110 near Wall. She was not wearing a helmet and was thrown from the motorcycle. It is the only fatality listed so far on the Highway Patrol’s report. There were three fatal crashes on Friday, August 6th, the Rally’s first official day.
As for injury crashes, the patrol reported 11 new accidents over the past 24 hours, with several of them resulting in serious injuries. Year to date, the patrol has reported 36 injury crashes – now ahead of last year’s 33 on this date.
There have been 25 non-injury accidents; below last year’s 31 on this date.
Both D-U-I and drug arrests remain lower than last year. So far, the patrol has made 74 D-U-I arrests, 61 felony drug arrests and 93 misdemeanor drug arrests. They report 865 citations have been given out and have issue 2,340 warnings.
Here is a synopsis of the latest injury crashes:
At 7:41 a.m., Tuesday, U.S. Highway 385, mile marker 30, within the city of Deadwood: A 2015 Indian Roadmaster was southbound on U.S. Highway 385 when it hit a Big Horn Sheep. The 65-year-old male driver received minor injuries, but was not transported. He was wearing a helmet.
At 10 a.m., Tuesday, Interstate 90, mile marker 53, one mile east of Black Hawk: A 2008 Harley-Davidson Low Rider motorcycle was westbound on Interstate 90 when the driver lost control as he tried to slow down. The 71-year-old male driver sustained minor injuries, but was not transported. He was not wearing a helmet.
At 11:58 a.m., Tuesday, 161st Avenue (New Underwood Road) north of Englehart Lane, three miles north of New Underwood: A 2016 Harley-Davidson FLST motorcycle was northbound when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle went into the ditch and through a fence. The 47-year-old male driver sustained serious non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet. Charges are pending.
At 2:55 p.m., Tuesday, Interstate 79, mile marker 118, 10 miles northeast of Sturgis: A 2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle was southbound when it was rear-ended by a 2016 Harley-Davidson FLHXSE motorcycles. Both drivers were thrown from their motorcycles. The 48-year-old female driver of the FLHXSE motorcycle sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Sturgis hospital. Charges are pending against her. The 56-year-old female driver of the Road Glide suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Sturgis hospital. Neither rider was wearing a helmet.
At 4:21 p.m., U.S. Highway 16A, mile marker 47, eight miles west of Keystone: A 2006 Harley-Davidson FLTRI motorcycle was eastbound when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The 75-year-old male driver received minor injuries and was transported to a Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
At 4:24 p.m., U.S. Highway 16A, mile marker 47, one mile north of Playhouse Road: A 2012 Harley-Davidson FLTRX motorcycle was southbound on U.S. Highway 16A when the driver lost control when he failed to negotiate a curve. Both occupants were thrown off the motorcycle as the motorcycle crossed the center line and struck a northbound 1991 Harley-Davidson XTC motorcycle, knocking the passenger off the motorcycle. The 56-year-old male of the FLTRX motorcycle sustained serious non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a Rapid City hospital. Charges are pending against him. The 51-year-old female passenger sustained minor injuries and was transported to a Rapid City hospital. The 59-year-old male passenger of the XTC motorcycle was not injured. The 52-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries and was taken to a Rapid City hospital. None of the four occupants were wearing helmets.
At 4:28 p.m., Tuesday, the intersection of South Dakota Highway 34 and Short Track Road, within the city limits of Sturgis: A 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was eastbound on South Dakota Highway 34 and stopped at the intersection of SD Highway 34 and Short Track Road. After stopping, the motorcycle proceeded into the intersection. A 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which was westbound on South Dakota Highway 34, stopped at the same intersection and then proceeded into the intersection to turn left onto Short Track Road. The 2004 motorcycle struck the 2021 motorcycle. The 65-year-old male driver of the 2004 motorcycle was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained minor injuries. The 25-year-old male driver of the 2021 motorcycle was not injured. Neither driver wore a helmet.
At 5:19 p.m., Tuesday, South Dakota Highway 34, mile marker 25, two miles northwest of Whitewood: A 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was westbound on South Dakota Highway 34 when the driver lost control. The 49-year-old male driver sustained minor injuries. The 51-year-old female passenger suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. Both were transported to the Spearfish hospital. Neither person was wearing a helmet. Charges are pending against the driver.
At 5:25 p.m., Tuesday, South Dakota Highway 87, mile marker 62, 10 miles northeast of Custer: Two motorcycles were eastbound on South Dakota Highway 87 entering a curve when they were struck by a westbound truck and trailer that did not stop. The 57-year-old male driver of a 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK motorcycle was not injured. The 45-year-male driver of a 2019 Harley-Davidson FLHXSE motorcycle was not injured, but the 45-year-old female passenger sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. All three motorcycle occupants were wearing helmets.
At 7:57 p.m., Tuesday, South Rockerville Road in Rockerville: A 1996 Boss Hoss motorcycle was traveling on South Rockerville Road when the driver lost control. The 59-year-old male driver sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. He was transported to a Rapid City hospital. Charges are pending. The 60-year-old female passenger was not injured. Neither person was wearing a helmet.
At 11:19 p.m., Tuesday, South Dakota Highway 34, mile marker 38, within the city limits of Spearfish: A 2008 Harley-Davidson FLSTB motorcycle was westbound on South Dakota Highway 34 when it collided with a deer. The 60-year-old male driver was not injured. The 52-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Sturgis hospital. Neither person was wearing a helmet.
