Rally Tally Day 3: 10 injured, including 16-year-old, across eight crashes near Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Hunter Dunteman, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·6 min read
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Aug. 9—STURGIS, S.D. — A 16-year-old was among 10 people injured in eight crashes detailed in the third day 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 release includes 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 noon MDT on each day of the rally, the information below includes information compiled from 6 a.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

One injured after biker rear-ends biker near Belle Fourche

BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. — Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday, authorities in Butte County were called to mile marker 3 of South Dakota Highway 34, roughly six miles west of Belle Fourche, for a report of a two-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2003 Harley-Davidson FLTHI motorcycle was westbound on S.D. 34 when it slowed down to make a right-hand turn. It was reared end by a westbound 2018 Honda GLI800 motorcycle.

The 68-year-old male driver of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle was thrown from the motorcycle. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Spearfish hospital. The 70-year-old male driver of the Honda was not injured. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.

Over-correction tosses one from bike near Lead

ELMORE, S.D. — Shortly before 10:45 a.m. Monday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to mile marker 25 of U.S. Highway 14A, roughly ten miles west of Lead, for a report of an ejection.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2014 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited motorcycle was southbound on U.S. 14A when the driver over-corrected. The vehicle went into the west ditch and rolled. The driver was thrown from the motorcycle.

The 75-year-old male driver sustained serious non-life threatening injuries and was taken to the Lead-Deadwood hospital. He was wearing a helmet.

One injured after swerving to avoid crash outside the Buffalo Chip

STURGIS, S.D. — Shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, authorities in Sturgis were called to the Buffalo Chip for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2005 Toyota 4Runner stopped at the entrance of the Buffalo Chip and then entered Alkali Road, where the driver failed to see a 2005 Harley-Davidson VRSC that was eastbound on Alkali Road. The motorcycle driver swerved to miss the vehicle, but lost control of the motorcycle.

The 68-year-old male driver of the motorcycle sustained minor injuries and was transported to the Sturgis hospital. He was wearing a helmet. The 26-year-old female driver of the Toyota was uninjured. She was wearing a seat belt.

One injured after sliding off curve south of Lead

MERRITT, S.D. — Shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday, authorities in Pennington County were called to U.S. Highway 85, roughly 19 miles south of Lead, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King was northbound on U.S. 85 when the driver failed to negotiate a right-hand curve. The motorcycle went into the east ditch.

The 51-year-old male driver suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment. He was not wearing a helmet.

One injured after striking guardrail near Hermosa

HERMOSA, S.D. — Shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, authorities in Custer County were called to mile marker 39 of U.S. Highway 16A, roughly 13 miles west of Hermosa, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2007 Harley-Davidson FLHX motorcycle was westbound on U.S. 16A when the driver failed to negotiate a corner. The driver hit a guardrail, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet. The age of the driver was not released.

One injured after entering ditch near Custer

CUSTER, S.D. — At approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday, authorities in Custer County were called to mile marker 66 of South Dakota Highway 87, roughly seven miles northeast of Custer, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2005 Suzuki Vulcan motorcycle was southbound on S.D. 87, when the driver exited a turn, left the roadway and entered the ditch.

The 67-year-old male driver was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered minor injuries. He was taken to the Custer hospital. He was wearing a helmet.

One injured after tipping motorcycle on curve near Lead

LEAD, S.D. — Shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, authorities in Lawrence County were called to mile marker 35 of U.S. Highway 14A, roughly two miles west of Lead, for a report of a one-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 1982 Honda Goldwing motorcycle was westbound on U.S. 14A when the driver failed to negotiate a left-hand curve. The motorcycle tipped over onto its side.

The 25-year-old male driver sustained minor injuries, but was not transported. He was wearing a helmet.

Three injured after two bikes collide in Rapid City intersection

RAPID CITY — Shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, authorities in Rapid City were called to the intersection of Interstate 90 and Deadwood Avenue, within the city limits of Rapid City, for a report of a two-bike crash.

Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2017 Harley-Davidson Road King was southbound on Deadwood Avenue when it failed to stop for the red traffic signal. It collided with a 2019 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic motorcycle which was making a left turn northbound onto Deadwood Avenue after exiting Interstate 90.

The 24-year-old male driver of the Road King motorcycle received serious, non-life threatening injuries, but was not transported. He was not wearing a helmet.

The 40-year-old male driver of the Heritage Classic motorcycle sustained minor injuries while the 16-year-old male passenger suffered serious, non-life threatening injuries. Both were wearing helmets.

Motorcycle, money seizures remain at zero

STURGIS, S.D. — Through the first three days of the rally, the South Dakota Highway Patrol has not yet seized any vehicles or cash from attendees.

Though no vehicles had been seized through the first three days last year, authorities had seized over $1,800 in cash.