The South Dakota Highway Patrol says 2 people were killed less than half an hour apart late Saturday afternoon in separate traffic accidents in the southwest part of the state. Names have not been released.
Around 5:45, a 69-year old man died when his small subcompact car collided with a semi on Hwy 18 near Martin. The Patrol says the man was eastbound about 13 miles west of Martin when he crossed the center line and hit the truck.
He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The 56-year old truck driver was unhurt.
Just after 6:00, the 31-year old male driver of a motorcycle was killed and his 29-year old passenger suffered life-threatening injuries when he failed to negotiate a curve on Hwy 14A a mile east of Deadwood.
The Highway Patrol says the westbound motorcycle traveled across the opposite lane and went into the ditch with both riders thrown from the bike.
The male driver died at the scene while the female passenger was airlifted to a Rapid City hospital.