One person was killed, and seven others were injured in separate crashes near Sturgis and Rapid City during the Sturgis Rally, authorities said.
According to the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the fatal crash occurred on Saturday, August 5, at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Highway 34, near Sturgis. One vehicle collided with another, resulting in one confirmed fatality. The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.
Additionally, seven other injury crashes were reported throughout the Sturgis and Rapid City areas during the same period. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety confirmed that multiple emergency units were dispatched to the scene of each incident, providing medical aid to those injured.
Authorities stated that two vehicles were involved in the fatal accident, while the other injury crashes involved various numbers of vehicles and circumstances. Lane closures were enacted on the highway for nearly three hours following the fatal crash as investigators assessed the scene.
The Highway Patrol continues to investigate both the fatal and injury crashes. Further details, including the total number of injured and specific circumstances of the incidents, will be released as they become available.