18 motorcycle crashes in one day at Sturgis Rally in South Dakota
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released a list of crashes and arrests that occurred in the span of only one day at the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a 10-day rider celebration event.

According to a press release from the Department of Public Safety, there were a total of 18 crashes between 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, with one of them being deadly.

Fatal crash:

9:34 a.m. Saturday. A 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound in the passing lane of US 16A when the driver was unable to negotiate a curve and tipped onto their right side. The motorcycle slid into the eastbound lanes, colliding with three other motorcycles. The 58-year-old male driver of the 2019 Harley died from his injuries. The other three riders received serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Helmet use for all four riders is under investigation.

Injury crashes:

9:26 a.m. Saturday. A 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was turning north onto US 16 from the Happy Place Campground when the front brake locked up, causing the rider to “lay the motorcycle down.” The driver and motorcycle fell onto the right side. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Rapid City Monument Hospital.

10:49 a.m. Saturday. A 2013 Victory motorcycle heading westbound on SD Highway 44 had a flat tire, and as the driver was slowing down to pull over, he lost control and went into a ditch. The driver and passenger were “separated” from the motorcycle. They were not wearing helmets and received serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

12:31 p.m. Saturday. A 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was heading northbound on SD 87 when the driver failed to negotiate a left turn and ran off the road and up an embankment. The driver was separated from the motorcycle, which fell on top of the rider. The driver was not wearing a helmet and received serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was flown to a hospital.

1:01 p.m. Saturday. A 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling south on SD 87 crossed into northbound traffic and crashed into a 2024 Harley-Davidson trike. Both riders were separated from their motorcycles. The driver of the 2024 Harley was not injured, but their passenger and the driver of the 2009 bike sustained minor injuries and were taken to Monument Health in Custer. All three were wearing helmets.

2:26 p.m. Saturday. A 2015 Harley-Davidson was westbound on I-90 when the driver hit the rumble strips as they were negotiating a curve, causing the Harley to enter the median. The rider was separated from the motorcycle and landed in the median. The rider was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

4:55 p.m. Saturday. A 2023 Harley-Davidson was westbound on I-90 in the right lane when it tried to pass a 2024 Harley-Davidson in the left lane and “made contact” with the other bike. The contact caused the driver of the 2023 Harley to lose control and go into a ditch, resulting in minor injuries. The other driver was not injured. Both were wearing helmets.

5:13 p.m. Saturday. A Ford Escape was rear-ended by a motorcycle while stopped at a stoplight. The motorcycle rider, who was wearing a helmet, sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and was flown to Monument Health in Rapid City. The driver of the Ford Escape was not injured.

5:44 p.m. Saturday. A 2025 Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling west on US 14A collided with the rear end of a 2012 Ford F150 that was stopped and waiting to make a left turn. The Harley driver, who was not wearing a helmet, received minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. The Ford driver was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

6:40 p.m. Saturday. A 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling east on I-90 tried to exit, but realized the road was closed. The driver laid the bike on its side and slid under the gate before coming to a stop. The driver, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported to a hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

12:44 a.m. Sunday. A 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle heading south on SD 79 and a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling north were straddling the centerline and struck each other. The 2005 Harley came to rest in the southbound lane, while the other motorcycle ran off the road and ended up in a ditch. Both drivers were transported to the hospital. The driver of the 2005 Harley was wearing a helmet and sustained life-threatening injuries, while the other driver sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Helmet use for the latter driver is under investigation.

12:50 a.m. Sunday. Sturgis Police tried to stop a 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle for alleged exhibition driving, but the motorcycle fled, leading to a police pursuit. Traveling at high speed, the motorcycle went off the road and into a ditch on US 14A. The driver, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and was taken to Monument Health via helicopter.

All information released so far is only preliminary, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

In addition to crashes, the South Dakota Highway Patrol reported that from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, there were a total of 21 DUI arrests, 31 misdemeanor drug arrests and 14 felony drug arrests.

Highway Patrol also issued a total of 252 citations and 592 warnings from Saturday to Sunday.

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