Four Dead, 80 Injured in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Incidents
STURGIS, S.D. — Four fatalities and 80 injuries were reported during the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
The incidents occurred across 66 crashes between 6 a.m. August 9 and 6 a.m. August 10. The Highway Patrol noted an increase in serious injury crashes compared to previous years, with 27 incidents in the Sturgis area and 39 in surrounding regions.
Among the fatalities was a 58-year-old man who died after failing to navigate a curve near Mount Rushmore. Three motorcyclists were injured in that crash. A 60-year-old man also lost his life in a three-bike crash in the southern Black Hills, attributed to another curve mishap. A 23-year-old man died in a collision near Rapid City airport, where a pickup attempted to turn in front of his motorcycle. Finally, a police pursuit led to the death of a 28-year-old man outside Sturgis.
The Highway Patrol has not released identities pending family notification.
Additionally, the Patrol reported 119 DUI arrests, a slight decrease from last year, and made contact with over 6,400 individuals during the event, issuing 1,524 citations and 4,959 warnings.