2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Claims First Victim

It didn't take long for the 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to claim its first victim.

The fatal crash occurred on Monday, August 8, 2016, around 2:35 p.m. on U.S. Highway 14A, three miles south of Sturgis.

A 65-year-old man missed a turn while driving his motorcycle southwest down Boulder Canyon. The man who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident was thrown from his bike and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene according to authorities.

In addition to the fatality, 10 other people have been injured in separate accidents in Western South Dakota since the start of the Rally.  Most of these accidents also involved failing to negotiate turns or collisions with wildlife. Fortunately, the injuries received by all 10 were not life threatening.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the first few days of the Rally are not nearly as tragic compared to last year.  Reports indicate, last year at this time nine people had died and 48 had been involved in injury accidents.

Source: Argus Leader

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