Final Rally Tally: Nine new injuries reported near Sturgis Motorcycle Rally; DUIs up, drug arrests down

Hunter Dunteman, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·5 min read
13

Aug. 14—STURGIS, S.D. — Nine new injuries were reported in the final day of the annual Rally Tally, as DUI arrests jumped and drug arrests fell across the over week-long event.

Over the course of the nine-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the South Dakota Highway Patrol released daily information on crashes and crime in and around the city of Sturgis.

Known as the Rally Tally, the daily release included information of investigations conducted only by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and did not include statistics compiled by other organizations, including the Sturgis Police Department and various county sheriff's offices in the area.

Released at noon MDT on each day of the rally, the information below includes information compiled from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday. This is the final information release of the rally.

One hurt after entering ditch on curve near Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. — Shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to Crook City Road, roughly 12 miles west of Sturgis, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2006 Harley-Davidson FLXHS Street Glide motorcycle was southbound on Crook City Road when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle crossed the centerline and into the east ditch.

The 67-year-old female driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Spearfish hospital. She was wearing a helmet.

Blown tire throws one off motorcycle in rural Butte County, injuring him

BUTTE COUNTY, S.D. — Shortly before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities in Butte County were called to mile marker 89 of U.S. Highway 85, roughly 43 miles north of Belle Fourche, for a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2003 Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle was northbound on U.S. 85 when the rear tire blew, causing the driver to lose control. The 68-year-old male was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered serious, non-life threatening injuries. He was airlifted to the Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.

One hurt after failing to negotiate curve near Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. — Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Meade County were called to mile marker 12 of Vanocker Canyon Road, roughly six miles southwest of Sturgis, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2016 Indian Chieftain motorcycle was traveling on Vanocker Canyon Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle went into the ditch.

The 62-year-old male driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Sturgis hospital. He was wearing a helmet.

Interstate exit two-vehicle rear-ending injures two in Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. — Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Sturgis were called to the off-ramp of Interstate 90 in Sturgis for a report of a two-vehicle crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup rear-ended a Jeep Wrangler, which had been stopped at the red light.

The 38-year-old male driver of the pickup and the 36-year-old female passenger were not injured. The 20-year-old male driver of the Jeep and the 21-year-old female passenger both received minor injuries and were transported to the Sturgis hospital.

Two injured after vehicle sideswipes another near Hermosa

HERMOSA, S.D. — At approximately 2:15 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Custer County were called to mile marker 62 of South Dakota Highway 79, roughly five miles south of Hermosa, for a report of a two-vehicle crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup was northbound on S.D. 79 when it collided with the rear passenger door of a northbound 2002 Chevrolet Van. The pickup rolled onto its passenger side and the van was pushed to the southbound shoulder.

The 70-year-old male driver of the pickup received minor injuries and was not transported. The 78-year-old female driver of the van sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the Rapid City hospital. Both were wearing seat belts.

Two thrown off bike after striking pickup in Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. —Shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Sturgis were called to the intersection of Junction Avenue and Anna Street, within the city limits of Sturgis, for a report of a motorcycle-vehicle crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle struck a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup. Both occupants of the motorcycle were thrown from the motorcycle.

Both the 42-year-old male driver and the 41-year-old female passenger of the motorcycle received serious, non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the Sturgis hospital. Neither wore a helmet.

The 18-year-old female driver of the pickup was not injured. She was wearing a seat belt.

Crash numbers decrease overall year-over-year

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST — In the eight days of data provided by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, troopers reported three fatalities and 66 injuries across 53 crashes.

Fatal crashes, injury crashes and non-injury crashes all decreased by an average of 15.5%.

DUI arrests up, drug arrests down

STURGIS, S.D. — Troopers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol are made more DUI arrests but fewer drug arrests through this year's rally.

Across the entire 2021 rally, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported 122 arrests for driving under the influence in connection with the rally.

Final statistics from this years rally tallied 148 DUI arrests — a 21.3% increase year-over-year.

Of this year's DUI arrests, 116 occurred within the city limits of Sturgis, while 32 took place in the wider Black Hills area. Numbers provided by DPS do not include 60 DUI arrests made within city limits by the Sturgis Police Department.

While alcohol-related arrests were up, drug arrests dipped at this year's rally.

Troopers reported 251 drug arrests this year, a 4.6% decrease from last year. Of this year's drug arrests, 148 were of a misdemeanor amount, while 103 were of a felony-level.

Next year's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will run Aug. 4-13, 2023.