The South Dakota Highway Patrol says numbers in their first official ‘rally tally’ report are right in line with last year.
In the latest report, the patrol reported 5 injury accidents and 5 non-injury crashes. That compares to 8 and 10 on the same date last year.
There have been no fatalities reported yet, although an Iowa man died in a crash in Lawrence County on Thursday. That crash, however, happened before the patrol started keeping tabs on rally-related incidents.
The patrol also reported a district total of 28 D.U.I. arrests. That is up from 23 on this day last year. Misdemeanor and felony drug arrests are down over last year, as are the total number of citations issued.
Here is a synopsis of Saturday’s crashes:
At 11:54 a.m., U.S. Highway 385, mile marker 117, five miles south of Lead: A male, 80, from Port Arthur, TX, was driving a motorcycle southbound on U.S. Highway 385 when he failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle left the roadway and the driver put the motorcycle on its side. The driver suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
At 1:02 p.m., Intersection of Nemo Road and Potter Road, eight miles west of Rapid City. A male, 52, from Deer Trail, CO, was traveling westbound on Nemo when he lost control of his motorcycle and went into the north ditch. He suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. He was not wearing a helmet.sTURGIS rALLYSturgis Rally
At 3:21 p.m., South Dakota Highway 87, mile marker 74, 11 miles north of Custer: A motorcycle was southbound on South Dakota Highway 87 when the driver lost control on the wet highway. The male driver, 76, suffered minor injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. The female passenger, 73, sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. He was wearing a helmet. Both are from Valkaria, FL.
At 5:53 p.m., U.S. Highway 385, mile marker 95, 18 miles west of Rapid City: A motorcycle was northbound on U.S. Highway 385 when the driver, a male, 26, from Las Vegas, NV, lost control in the heavy rain. The vehicle left the roadway and the driver laid down the bike. The driver suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. He was taken to a Rapid City hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
At 5:58 p.m., South Dakota 87, mile marker 57, seven miles east of Custer: A motorcycle was southbound on South Dakota Highway 87 when the driver lost control while traveling down a hill and around a curve. The male driver, 29, from Milwaukee, WI, suffered serious non-life threatening injuries. He was taken to a Rapid City hospital. He was wearing a helmet.
(The Homeslice Group)