South Dakota: 45 DUI arrests, multiple crashes, two fatal reported by Highway Patrol for Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

South Dakota Highway Patrol

South Dakota Highway Patrol Update

Sunday Highway Patrol Sturgis Rally Daily Information

Statistics as of 6 a.m. Sunday August 2, 2015

Fatal Crashes:

The victim in the Friday night fatal crash has been identified as Gregory Bullard, 45, Fort Collins, CO. The crash happened on U.S. Highway 14A, one mile south of Lead.

At 5:39 p.m., William Carter, 65, Seville, OH, was driving a 2001 Harley Davidson Softtail motorcycle northbound on Vanocker Canyon Road south of Galena Road. The vehicle left the road while taking a curve. The driver separated from the bike. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver died at Sturgis Regional Hospital. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. Speed around the curve is thought to be a factor.

Sturgis traffic.  KDLT courtesy photo

Sturgis traffic. KDLT courtesy photo

Injury Crashes:

At 7:43 a.m., a collision occurred on I-90, mm 34 between two motorcycles and a vehicle. The first motorcycle was going eastbound when the driver lost control and went into the grass median. The driver received minor injuries. The driver of a 2007 Pontiac G4 slowed down and was rear-ended by the second motorcycle. The driver and passenger in the car received the minor injuries. The second motorcycle driver received serious life threatening injuries. Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors. Names not being released pending notification of family.

At 8:46 a.m., there was a three-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 385, mm 86, one-half mile north of Three Forks. A motorcycle was traveling south when the driver swerved to miss a big horned sheep. The driver collided with the second motorcycle. A third motorcycle hit the big horned sheep. The driver of the first unit, Perry Connel, 54, Canyon Lake, Texas received minor injuries. The driver of the third motorcycle, Doug Odegaard, 55, Brookings, sustained non-life threatening injuries. The passenger of the third motorcycle, Judy Odegaard, Brookings, received minor injuries. The driver and passenger of the second motorcycle were not injured.

At about noon, on I-90, mm 191, one mile west of Murdo, Mark Brown, 66, Brighton was driving a motorcycle and moved to the shoulder of the road to avoid getting hit by a passing vehicle. Brown lost control and tipped the motorcycle. He was later taken to a Pierre hospital for treatment of injuries.

At about 1 p.m., a group of motorcycles was traveling west on I-90, mm 191. The driver of the first motorcycle, Ellen Reihbrandt, 61, Wauwatosa, WI, slowed down, lost control and crashed. The driver of the second motorcycle, Lynn Stucker, 51, Greendale, WI, also crashed. Both received non-life threatening injuries. Both were wearing helmets.

At 3:13 p.m., two motorcycles were westbound on I-90, mm 81, three miles west of New Underwood. A vehicle, towing another vehicle with a tow dolly, was east bound at the same site. The rear passenger tire of the towed vehicle came off and bounced through the median. The rolling tire struck both westbound motorcycles. Both drivers were thrown from their vehicles. The driver of the second motorcycle, Clint Breakall, 43, Elizabeth, CO, suffered serious non-life threatening injuries.  Alcohol and speed were not factors. Helmets were not used.

At 3:30 p.m., James Miller, 63, Knox Iowa was driving a motorcycle north on South Dakota 87 when he lost control. Both Miller and a passenger were separated from the vehicle. Miller suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. The passenger received minor injuries. Helmets were not used.

This helmet was being used by a motorcyclist reports South Dakota Highway Patrol.

At 3:39 p.m., Roy Miller, 57, Hobart, IN was driving a motorcycle northbound on U.S. Highway 85, mm 5, when the vehicle entered a curve too fast and left the roadway. The driver was separated from the motorcycle. Miller suffered serious non-life threatening injuries

At 4:39 p.m., Nickolas Hartwell, 19, Rapid City, was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix west on I-90, mm 27, three miles west of Sturgis. His vehicle hit a westbound motorcycle. Both the driver and passenger were thrown from motorcycle. The driver suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. The passenger sustained life threatening injuries. Names are not being released pending notification of family. Hartwell arrested for DUI, zero tolerance and reckless driving.

A Sioux Falls Captain responded to a crash on Interstate 29 near the Canton exit. A 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle collided with a 2013 Harley Davidson after making an lane change. The 2009 Harley Davidson went into the median where it separated from the operator. The Harley Davidson continued sliding through the median and across the south bound lane of travel. The operator of the 2009 Harley Davidson received minor injuries. The 2013 Harley Davidson had a broken saddlebag. Both operators were wearing a helmet. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Department, Canton Police Department, and the Canton Ambulance assisted.

Blown tire caused crash

This afternoon Vermillion Troopers responded to a motorcycle crash about 4 miles south of the Vermillion exit on Interstate 29. The rear tire of a 2010 Harley Davidson blew out causing the driver to lose control. The motorcycle and trailer combination began to swerve back and forth throwing the driver and passenger off. The motorcycle came to rest on the shoulder of the road. Both were wearing a helmet. Both were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Union County Sheriffs Department, Elk Point Police Department, Elk Point Fire and Rescue, Vermillion Ambulance, Elk Point Ambulance, and Mercy Life Flight assisted.

I 29 motorcycle crash near Sturgis South Dakota Highway Patrol

South Dakota Highway Patrol reports that on Aug. 2, 2015,  Mitchell Troopers responded to a crash about 2 miles east of Mitchell on Interstate 90. The driver of a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle didn’t realize that traffic had slowed down to enter a construction area. The driver applied the brakes and drove onto the shoulder of the road to avoid a collision with the traffic in front of him. He then lost control and the Harley Davidson went down on its side. The motorcycle then struck a cable guard rail before coming to rest in the grass median. The motorcycle started on fire. Both the driver and passenger were injured; one with non-life threatening injuries and the other with life threatening injuries. They were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Both were wearing a helmet. The Hanson County Sheriffs Department, Davison County Sheriffs Department, Alexandria Fire and Rescue, and Mitchell Ambulance assisted.

Motorcycle crashed and burned

Other Noteworthy Events:

At 11:40 a.m., a trooper stopped a vehicle on I-90, mm 12 at the Spearfish exit for a traffic violation. A search revealed six pounds of heroin. Also discovered were prescription pill and a small amount of cocaine. Both the driver and passenger were appropriately charged.

At 1:46 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 2, 2015, a trooper was on patrol on U.S. Highway 85, mile marker 111 in Harding County, 15 miles south of Buffalo. He noticed a Ford Taurus parked on the side of the road with an occupant in the driver’s seat. The trooper conducted a motorist assist. Dispatch reported that the vehicle had been stolen. The trooper arrested the driver, Tanner Kormendy, 23, Black Hawk, for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container in a motor vehicle and warrant from Sully County