FORT THOMPSON, S.D. – A 43-year-old man from Willow Lake died in a late night crash with a semi Thursday evening, 14 miles east of Ft. Thompson, SD.
The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2015 Peterbilt was hauling hay bales on SD Highway 34 near mile marker 284 when a strap broke causing the rear bales to fall off the trailer. In an effort to go back and clear the bales from the road, the driver attempted to turn the semi around near a gravel road intersection and the rear tires of the trailer got stuck in the south side ditch, immobilizing it. The approaching driver of a 2022 Toyota Prius collided with the trailer.
The driver of the Toyota sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the Peterbilt was not injured.
