Collision Between 2 Pickups Near Oelrichs Claims One Life

The South Dakota Highway Patrol says one person was killed and 3 others injured in a 2-vehicle crash about 2:00 Sunday afternoon on Hwy 385 south of Oelrichs. Names have not been released pending notification of family.

The State Patrol says the accident 2 miles south of Oelrichs in the southbound lanes of the highway when a pickup rear-ended a fifth-wheel trailer loaded with hay and being towed by another another pickup. The impact pushed the trailer into the back of the second pickup.

Each pickup had 2 occupants. A 71-year old female passenger in the first pickup was airlifted to a Rapid City hospital where she died as a result of her injuries. Her 72-year-old male driver received serious non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Hot Springs hospital.

Both occupants of the other pickup – the 50-year-old female driver and 53-year-old male passenger – suffered minor injuries and later went to the Hot Springs hospital by private vehicle.

The Highway Patrol says all 4 people were wearing seatbelts and that charges are pending against both drivers.