Meade County Fatal Crash Claims One Life
Sturgis, South Dakota - A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, as a fatal crash occurred on Interstate 90 near mile marker 30 in Sturgis, South Dakota. The incident claimed the life of a 70-year-old male driver whose identity is being withheld pending family notification.
Preliminary reports from the scene suggest that a 2019 Peterbilt semi-truck and trailer were traveling eastbound on I-90. For reasons yet to be determined, the semi-truck veered off the roadway towards the median while traversing a bridge. In a devastating turn of events, the semi-truck collided with the end of the bridge before toppling over into the median area. The impact was forceful enough to strike a parked train located on the tracks below, causing two train cars to derail.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, transporting the 70-year-old male driver to Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota. Despite their best efforts, the driver succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Remarkably, the driver had been wearing his seatbelt during the accident.
In the wake of the incident, I-90 westbound was temporarily closed for approximately 20 minutes to facilitate response efforts, while I-90 eastbound was subject to closure for around two hours.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol has taken up the responsibility of investigating this unfortunate crash's circumstances. Authorities have cautioned that all information shared thus far is preliminary as they diligently work to unravel the sequence of events that led to this tragic loss of life.
Written by: Candyse Arivett
