An 83-year-old woman died Friday morning when a trailered boat came unhitched and collided with her vehicle head-on near Sturgis, SD.
The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2016 Chrysler 300 was traveling south on SD Highway 79 near mile marker 124. At the same location, the driver of a 2022 Ford F-350 pulling a trailered pontoon boat was traveling north when the trailer coupler disconnected from the pickup and the safety chains failed to control the trailer and boat. The trailer and boat entered the southbound lane and collided with the Chrysler. The trailer, boat, and Chrysler came to rest on the southbound shoulder and in the west ditch. The driver of the Chrysler received fatal injuries. There were no injuries to the driver and passenger of the pick-up.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
