FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT: Lt. David Berkley 605.394.2286

RE: Highway Patrol Sturgis Rally Daily Information

Below are the statistics as of 6:00 a.m. Saturday August 10, 2013

Injury Crashes:

A 1984 Chevrolet S10 pickup driven by a 17 year old juvenile, from Spearfish, S.D., was traveling south on a public access road off of Susie Peak Road, (Orman Dam Tequila Beach). He lost control on a curve in the roadway and the vehicle rolled. The Spearfish juvenile and passenger, another juvenile from Riverton, Wyo., were not ejected from the vehicle while it rolled and remained in the pickup; neither were wearing seatbelts. The Spearfish juvenile was treated on scene with minor injuries. The Riverton juvenile was transported to Spearfish Regional Hospital and treated for minor injuries. The Spearfish juvenile was cited for careless driving and no seatbelt. The Riverton juvenile was cited for no seatbelt.

A 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Harry Wenick, 76, from Washougal, Wash., was traveling southbound on Avalanche Road, in Sturgis S.D., with a group of other motorcycles; he was the last rider in the group. Wenick wanted to make a left turn onto Lazelle St.; he accelerated to get through the intersection and as the light turned red, he lost control of his motorcycle and it overturned. Wenick suffered minor injuries and was transported to Sturgis Regional Hospital by Sturgis Ambulance. He was not wearing a helmet. Wenick was cited for failure to stop at a red light.

Willy Oster, 37, from Apple Valley, Minn. was traveling southbound on Vanocker Canyon Road in a 2006 BMW M5, ten miles south of Sturgis. He failed to negotiate a curve in the road due to speed, and went off the roadway. Oster overcorrected the steering which made the BMW go into a yaw swerve. It vaulted over a field approach, landed in the ditch and then collided with several trees. Oster was Life Flighted to Rapid City Regional Hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries. Alcohol, speed and not wearing a seatbelt were all factors in this crash. A DUI charge is pending. Meade County and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Offices assisted at the scene.

A 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Dayton Frank Garrett, 57, from Ft. Collins, Colo., was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 14A, three miles west of Lead S.D. Garret was traveling around a curve too fast for his driving abilities and drove onto the eastbound shoulder; he lost control and entered the eastbound ditch. Garrett's motorcycle vaulted over a five foot deep embankment, and landed on the bottom of the embankment which threw him from the motorcycle. Garrett came to rest about 25 feet from his motorcycle. He was transported by Lead-Deadwood EMS to Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries. A careless driving charge is pending. Garrett was wearing a helmet. Speed was a factor in this crash. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office assisted.

Other Noteworthy Items:

A Washington man, driving a passenger car, was stopped in Sturgis for equipment and moving violations. While talking to the driver, numerous signs of criminal activity were observed and the odor of an alcoholic beverage came from his person. The subject admitted he had an open container in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed personal use marijuana and a duffle bag containing seven pounds of marijuana. The driver and female passenger, also from Washington, were arrested for felony possession of marijuana. The driver’s name is not being released pending further investigation.

A Yuba City, Calif. man driving a pickup was stopped near Whitewood S.D. for equipment and moving violations. The driver admitted there was marijuana in the vehicle. A search revealed marijuana, six grams of hash, and drug paraphernalia. The driver was arrested and charged accordingly.

A Wilseyville, Calif. man was stopped in Sturgis for equipment violations. Upon contact with the driver, there was an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search revealed 3.1 ounces of marijuana and 3.7 grams of hash. The driver and his female passenger were arrested and charged accordingly.

A Norwalk, Conn. man, driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle, was stopped in Deadwood S.D., for an equipment violation. He was arrested for DUI, and a search of his person revealed one gram of psychedelic mushrooms, ecstasy, mylan pills and drug paraphernalia. He will be charged accordingly. The motorcycle was seized and is pending forfeiture.  

A Placerville, Calif. woman driving a jeep was stopped two miles from Sturgis for a moving violation. Upon contact with the driver, there was an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The driver and a female passenger from Sacramento, Calif., admitted to possessing medical marijuana. The passenger was cited for drug paraphernalia and released. The driver was arrested and will be charged accordingly. A hold was placed on the vehicle with possible seizure pending.

A Dickinson, N.D. man, driving a pickup, was stopped east of Sturgis for speeding. Signs of possible stimulant use were observed. The driver admitted to illegally possessing a concealed weapon. A search also revealed two grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of drug paraphernalia. The driver was arrested and will be charged accordingly. The vehicle was seized and pending forfeiture.

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