STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol added two more fatalities Thursday as they released their latest Rally Statistics Report.
One of the fatalities was the result of a crash on Sunday in which a man fled from Sturgis Police after they attempted to pull him over for exhibition driving near the Iron Horse Saloon.
The motorcyclist led police up Boulder Canyon before crashing on U.S. Highway 14A. The 28-year-old rider was taken by helicopter to Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City where he died from his injuries. His name has not been released.
The fourth fatality was due to a Thursday crash on U.S. Highway 44, with its intersection at Airport Road.
The patrol says the driver of a 2024 Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Highway 44 when it struck a 2015 Toyota Tacoma attempting to make a left turn onto Airport Road. The 23-year-old male driver of the motorcycle sustained fatal injuries. He was wearing a helmet. The driver of the Tacoma, who did not see the motorcycle before attempting to make the turn, was not hurt.
There were also 9 injury crashes the patrol responded to Thursday with one of them resulting in life-threatening injuries for a motorcycle rider. The crash happened on I-90 at mile marker 135 when a 2022 Harley Davidson traveling at a high rate of speed struck the back of a 2020 Dodge Ram.
Other serious injury crashes occurred on Highway 34, Interstate-90, Wildlife Loop Road and last night at the off ramp of Exit 37, Pleasant Valley Road.
The number of injury crashes on the year reaches 58 today with the number of non-injury crashes at 24.
D.U.I. arrests rose to 103 on the year, with 16 reported Thursday. Felony drug arrests total 83 on the year with 16 listed yesterday and misdemeanor drug arrests total 209 with 40 recorded on Thursday.
Here is a synopsis of Thursday’s crashes:
Fatal Crashes:
**Update** At 12:50 a.m. Sunday, US 14A mile marker 52: At 12:50am Sturgis Police attempted to stop a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle for exhibition driving near the Iron Horse Saloon. The motorcycle fled and Sturgis Police engaged in a pursuit. The motorcycle left the lane of travel at a high speed and entered the ditch at MM 52 on US 14A. The driver was transported by helicopter to Monument Health with serious life-threatening injuries. On Monday August 4th the 28-year-old male driver died from his injuries.
At 3:53 p.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 44 and Airport Road: A 2024 Honda CBR motorcycle (Unit 2) was traveling westbound on SD Hwy 44 toward Airport Road. A 2015 Toyota Tacoma (Unit 1) was eastbound on SD 44 preparing to make a left turn onto Airport Road. The driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 and began to make a left turn. As Unit 1 was making the left turn, it was struck by Unit 2. The driver of Unit 2 was wearing a helmet. The 23-year-old male driver of Unit 2 was transported to Monument Health in Rapid City. The driver of Unit 2 sustained fatal injuries. The driver of Unit 1 was not injured.
Injury Crashes:
At 10:19 a.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 34, mile marker 38: A 2023 Indian motorcycle (Unit 2) was driving westbound on SD 34 near MM 38, as he began to merge into the right lane, a 2025 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) came up from behind Unit 2 while also attempting to merge into the right lane. As Unit 2 passed Unit 1, the motorcycles side swiped one another. Unit 2 drifted into the north ditch and came to rest on its side. Both riders of Unit 2 became separated from their motorcycle. Unit 1 remained upright and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The driver of Unit 1 sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2’s driver sustained a minor injury to his right leg, he was treated and released on scene, and the passenger was not injured. The passenger of Unit 2 was wearing a helmet. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.
At 10:32 a.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, mile marker 113: A 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was traveling eastbound on I 90 near mile marker 113. Unit 1 had an equipment failure resulting in a rear tire rupture. Unit 1’s driver lost control and laid Unit 1 down. Both driver and passenger sustained minor injuries and were transported to Monument Health in Rapid City. Both occupants were wearing helmets.
At 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, mile marker 18: A 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was driving westbound on I 90 near MM 18 when his front wheel began to wobble. The driver of Unit 1 tried to regain stability but was unable to. Unit 1 tipped over and the driver separated from Unit 1. A 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (Unit 2) was in the lane next to Unit 1 and was struck by the motorcycle after the driver of unit 1 was separated from it. Unit 1 and Unit 2 both came to a final rest in the median crossover. The driver of Unit 1 came to a final rest on the edge of the passing lane. The driver of Unit 1 was wearing a helmet and was transported to Spearfish Monument Health with serious non-life-threatening injuries.
At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, US Highway 16A, mile marker 39: A 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was eastbound at MM 39 US 16A. A 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was westbound at this location. Unit 1 failed to negotiate the curve and crossed the double solid yellow line. Unit 1 struck Unit 2 causing them both to leave the roadway into the north ditch. The operator of Unit 1 was wearing a helmet and was transported to Monument Health in Custer. The passenger on Unit 2 was not wearing a helmet. She sustained serious injury and was transported to Rapid City Monument Health. The operator of Unit 2 was not wearing a helmet. He was treated and released on scene.
At 1:58 p.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 34 and South Dakota Highway 79: A 2017 Ford F350 (Unit 1) was stopped at a traffic signal facing southbound at the intersection of SD Hwy 34 and SD Hwy 79. A 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was traveling eastbound on SD Hwy 34 attempting to make a left turn on to SD Hwy 79. As Unit 2 made the turn he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the trailer of Unit 1. Unit 2 passenger sustained minor injuries and was transported to Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. Neither occupant was wearing a helmet.
At 4:37 p.m. Thursday, Wildlife Loop Road, mile marker 5: A 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was eastbound near MM 5 Wildlife Loop Rd. Unit 1 failed to negotiate a right turn due to the exhaust dragging on the roadway. Unit 1 lost control and laid the motorcycle down in the middle of the road. The operator of Unit 1 was not wearing a helmet and sustained a serious non-life-threatening injury. The driver of Unit 1 was transported to Custer Monument Hospital via ambulance.
At 5:02 p.m. Thursday, Nemo Road near Box Elder Forks Road: A 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was riding south on Nemo Rd and ran off the roadway. The driver was separated from his motorcycle, coming to a rest in a ditch. The driver was not wearing a helmet and sustained minor injuries.
At 5:02 p.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, Mile marker 135: A 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Interstate 90 and struck the rear bumper of a 2020 Dodge Ram (Unit 2). Unit 1 ran off the road to the left and entered the median. Unit 1 traveled several hundred feet upright before it tripped and rolled. The driver of Unit 1 was separated from the motorcycle and came to final rest alongside Unit 1 in the median. The driver of Unit 1 was life-flighted to Monument Health with life-threatening injuries. The driver of Unit 1 was not wearing a helmet.
At 11:25 p.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, Exit 37: A 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was stopped at the stop sign on the off ramp of Interstate 90 Exit 37 at its intersection with Pleasant Valley Road. A 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was southbound on Pleasant Valley Road. The driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 and entered the intersection. Unit 1 collided with Unit 2. Both drivers separated from their motorcycles after the collision. The driver of Unit 1 sustained minor injuries and was not transported. The driver of Unit 2 sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Monument Health in Sturgis. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.
All information released so far is only preliminary.