Name Released in Lawrence County Fatal Crash

What:    Motorcycle fatal crash
Where:  US Highway 385, mile marker 121, one mile south of Lead, SD
When:   4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2025

Driver 1: John Michael Walz, 42-year-old male from Lennox, SD, fatal injuries
Vehicle 1: 2003 Victory Vegas motorcycle
Helmet Used: No

Lawrence County, S.D.- A motorcyclist died Wednesday, June 25 from injuries sustained in a crash Saturday, June 21, one mile south of Lead, SD.

Preliminary crash information indicates John Michael Walz, the driver of a 2003 Victory Vegas motorcycle, was traveling north on US 385 near mile marker 121 and failed to negotiate a curve in the road. Walz became separated from the motorcycle and was was life-flighted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died from his injuries on Wednesday.

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.