Rally Tally Day 1: 1 killed, 6 injured Saturday across 5 separate crashes near Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Aug. 7—STURGIS, S.D. — One person was killed and six others were injured across five separate crashes detailed in the first year of the annual Rally Tally.
Over the course of the nine-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the South Dakota Highway Patrol releases daily information on crashes and crime in and around the city of Sturgis.
Known as the Rally Tally, the daily releases include information of investigations conducted only by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and does not include statistics compiled by other organizations, including the Sturgis Police Department and various county sheriff's offices in the area.
Released at 12 p.m. MDT on each day of the rally, the first iteration includes information compiled from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday.
One killed, one injured in two-bike crash near Hayes
HAYES, S.D. — Shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday, authorities in Haakon County were called to mile marker 157 of South Dakota Highway 34, roughly 18 miles west of Hayes, for a report of a two-motorcycle crash.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHX motorcycle was westbound on S.D. 34 when it rear-ended a second westbound 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHX motorcycle that had slowed down.
The 58-year-old male driver of the first motorcycle was transported to a Rapid City hospital, where he later died.
The 68-year-old male driver of the second motorcycle sustained injuries that were not life-threatening and was transported to the Philip hospital. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.
One injured near Lead after striking guardrail
LEAD, S.D. — Shortly before 12:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to mile marker 35 of U.S. Highway 14A for a report of a single-motorcycle crash.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2020 Harley-Davidson FLTRX motorcycle was northbound on U.S. 14A when the vehicle left the roadway, struck the edge of a guardrail and went into the ditch.
The 46-year-old male driver was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries that were not life-threatening. He was transported to a Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
One injured after striking another motorcycle on Nemo curve
NEMO, S.D. — Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to the intersection of Nemo Road and Vanocker Canyon Road, within the city limits of Nemo, for a report of a two-motorcycle crash.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was westbound on Nemo Road when the driver lost control on a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided with an eastbound 2018 Harley-Davidson Ultra Tri Glide.
The 66-year-old male driver of the 2016 motorcycle sustained serious injuries that were not life-threatening and was airlifted to a Rapid City hospital. He was wearing a helmet.
The 78-year-old male driver and the 73-year-old female passenger, both on the Tri Glide motorcycle, were not injured. They were not wearing helmets.
Two injured after vehicle, motorcycle collide in Custer
CUSTER, S.D. — Shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday, authorities in Custer were called to the mile marker 25 of U.S. Highway 16, in the city limits of Custer, for a report of a vehicle-motorcycle crash.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2006 Ford Expedition had stopped at a stop sign and then turned left onto U.S. 16, where it collided with a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling westbound on U.S. 16.
The 66-year-old female driver of the Expedition was not injured. She was wearing a seat belt.
The 60-year-old male driver and the 58-year-old female passenger, both on the motorcycle, each sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Custer hospital. The passenger was wearing a helmet, but the driver was not.
One injured on I-90 after striking speed limit sign
WHITEWOOD, S.D. — Shortly before 2:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to mile marker 24 of Interstate 90, roughly one mile east of Whitewood, for a report of a single-motorcycle crash.
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2022 Indian motorcycle was eastbound on Interstate 90 when it left the roadway, entered the median and struck a speed limit sign.
The 63-year-old male driver was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious injuries that were not life-threatening. He was first taken to the Spearfish hospital and later transferred to the Rapid City hospital.
DUIs, citations down, drug arrests up through day one
STURGIS, S.D. — Through the first day of the rally, the South Dakota Highway Patrol is reporting fewer DUIs and general citations, though drug arrests for both misdemeanor and felony drug offense are up.
Between Saturday and Sunday mornings, DUI arrests by troopers tallied 16 in Sturgis and seven in the wider Rapid City patrol district. The 17 arrests in the first day are three fewer than through day one at the 2021 rally.
Troopers have also made 25 drug arrests through day one, including eight of a felony-level amount. Though felony drug offenses have doubled from this point last year, misdemeanor drug arrests have only increased by one. Total drug arrests have increased by five year-over-year.
No cash or vehicle seizures were made thus far by troopers.
