Two-Vehicle Accident South Of Rapid City Claims 2 Lives

      The South Dakota Highway Patrol says two people were killed and a third seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Hwy 79  south of Rapid City. Names have not been released.

      The Highway Patrol says a small car on Upper Spring Creek Road had stopped at the highway, then pulled out in front of a southbound SUV. 

       Both front-seat occupants in the car, the 31-year-old male driver and a 30-year-old female passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 5-year-old in the backseat sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a Rapid City hospital. 

       The two adults were wearing seat belts, but whether the 5-year old was in a safety seat or wearing a seatbelt remains under investigation.

      The 16-year old female driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital with minor injuries while her 14-year passenger was unhurt. Both were wearing seat belts.