Name released in fatal crash near Ethan
Oct. 25—ETHAN, S.D. — A Mitchell teen has been identified as the person who died last Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash north of Ethan.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2008 Ford-250 pickup was southbound on South Dakota Highway 37 and in the wrong lane when it collided with a northbound 2018 Kenworth Construction T800 semi-truck and trailer. The enclosed trailer contained cabinets.
Benjamin Waldner, the 16-year-old driver of the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rickey Nelsen of Vermillion, South Dakota, 73, was the driver of the semi-truck. He received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a Mitchell hospital. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
The crash occurred at approximately 5:26 p.m. on South Dakota Highway 37 near mile marker 66, about four miles north of Ethan.
South Dakota's Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
