Buffalo County Fatal Crash

What:    Two vehicle fatal crash
Where:  SD Highway 34, mile marker 284, 14 miles east of Ft. Thompson, SD 
When:   11:03 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2025

Driver 1: 43-year-old male from Willow Lake, SD, fatal injuries
Vehicle 1: 2022 Toyota Prius
Seat belt Used: Yes 

Driver 2: 24-year-old male from Hendrum, MN, no injuries
Vehicle 2: 2015 Peterbilt 579
Seat belt Used: Parked, out of cab

Buffalo County, S.D.- One man died in a late night crash with a semi Thursday evening, 14 miles east of Ft. Thompson, SD.

The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.

Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2015 Peterbilt was hauling hay bales on SD Highway 34 near mile marker 284 when a strap broke causing the rear bales to fall off the trailer. In an effort to go back and clear the bales from the road, the driver attempted to turn the semi around near a gravel road intersection and the rear tires of the trailer got stuck in the south side ditch, immobilizing it. The approaching driver of a 2022 Toyota Prius collided with the trailer. 

The driver of the Toyota sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the Peterbilt was not injured. 

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.