Two men died and a third was injured when they fled the scene during a traffic stop and crashed on US Highway 18, eight miles east of Oelrichs, SD.
The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
Preliminary information indicates that while the driver of a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado was outside of the vehicle undergoing a DUI investigation during a traffic stop, the front seat passenger slid into the driver’s seat and fled eastbound on US Highway 18 at a high rate of speed. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve at mile marker 73 and left the roadway, rolling several times. The driver and a passenger were ejected. The driver sustained fatal injuries while the passenger received serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
A second passenger in the vehicle also sustained fatal injuries.
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.
