What:    Two vehicle fatal crash
Where:  US Highway 16, mile marker 58, six miles west of Rapid City, SD
When:   Thursday, May 14, 2026

Vehicle 1: 1996 Toyota Corolla
Driver 1: Leah Renee Thornton, 56-year-old female from Rapid City, SD, fatal injuries
Seat belt Used: No 
Passenger 1a: Lyla Dee Henrichsen, 76-year-old female from Rapid City, SD, fatal injuries
Seat belt Used: No 

Vehicle 2: Donald Leslie Holmes, 2019 GMC Sierra
Driver 2: 58-year-old male from Newcastle, WY, minor injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes


Pennington County, S.D.- Two Rapid City women died from a two-vehicle crash May 14, 2026, on US Highway 16, six miles west of Rapid City, SD.

Preliminary crash information indicates Leah Renee Thornton, the driver of a 1996 Toyota Corolla, had entered the intersection on US 16 from Busted Five Court when a westbound 2019 GMC Sierra driven by Donald Leslie Holmes on US 16 collided with the Corolla. The Corolla spun onto the north shoulder, ejecting the passenger, Lyla Dee Henrichsen.

Both the driver and passenger in the Corolla were transported to Monument Health with life-threatening injuries. Neither were wearing seat belts. Henrichsen later died from her injuries. Holmes sustained minor injuries.

Update: Thornton has died from injuries sustained in the crash.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.

The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

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Note: Records of state-reportable crashes are now available at http://www.safesd.gov/ . Records should be available about 10 days after the investigation is complete.