Highway Patrol Sturgis Rally Daily Information
Compiled from 6 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2025, to 6 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2025

Fatal Crashes:
**Update** At 12:50 a.m. Sunday, US 14A mile marker 52: At 12:50am Sturgis Police attempted to stop a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle for exhibition driving near the Iron Horse Saloon. The motorcycle fled and Sturgis Police engaged in a pursuit. The motorcycle left the lane of travel at a high speed and entered the ditch at MM 52 on US 14A. The driver was transported by helicopter to Monument Health with serious life-threatening injuries. On Monday August 4th the 28-year-old male driver died from his injuries.

At 3:53 p.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 44 and Airport Road: A 2024 Honda CBR motorcycle (Unit 2) was traveling westbound on SD Hwy 44 toward Airport Road. A 2015 Toyota Tacoma (Unit 1) was eastbound on SD 44 preparing to make a left turn onto Airport Road. The driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 and began to make a left turn. As Unit 1 was making the left turn, it was struck by Unit 2. The driver of Unit 2 was wearing a helmet. The 23-year-old male driver of Unit 2 was transported to Monument Health in Rapid City. The driver of Unit 2 sustained fatal injuries. The driver of Unit 1 was not injured.

Injury Crashes:
At 10:19 a.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 34, mile marker 38: A 2023 Indian motorcycle (Unit 2) was driving westbound on SD 34 near MM 38, as he began to merge into the right lane, a 2025 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) came up from behind Unit 2 while also attempting to merge into the right lane. As Unit 2 passed Unit 1, the motorcycles side swiped one another. Unit 2 drifted into the north ditch and came to rest on its side. Both riders of Unit 2 became separated from their motorcycle. Unit 1 remained upright and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The driver of Unit 1 sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2’s driver sustained a minor injury to his right leg, he was treated and released on scene, and the passenger was not injured. The passenger of Unit 2 was wearing a helmet. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.

At 10:32 a.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, mile marker 113: A 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was traveling eastbound on I 90 near mile marker 113. Unit 1 had an equipment failure resulting in a rear tire rupture. Unit 1's driver lost control and laid Unit 1 down. Both driver and passenger sustained minor injuries and were transported to Monument Health in Rapid City. Both occupants were wearing helmets. 

At 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, mile marker 18: A 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was driving westbound on I 90 near MM 18 when his front wheel began to wobble. The driver of Unit 1 tried to regain stability but was unable to. Unit 1 tipped over and the driver separated from Unit 1. A 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (Unit 2) was in the lane next to Unit 1 and was struck by the motorcycle after the driver of unit 1 was separated from it. Unit 1 and Unit 2 both came to a final rest in the median crossover. The driver of Unit 1 came to a final rest on the edge of the passing lane. The driver of Unit 1 was wearing a helmet and was transported to Spearfish Monument Health with serious non-life-threatening injuries.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, US Highway 16A, mile marker 39: A 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was eastbound at MM 39 US 16A. A 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was westbound at this location. Unit 1 failed to negotiate the curve and crossed the double solid yellow line. Unit 1 struck Unit 2 causing them both to leave the roadway into the north ditch. The operator of Unit 1 was wearing a helmet and was transported to Monument Health in Custer. The passenger on Unit 2 was not wearing a helmet. She sustained serious injury and was transported to Rapid City Monument Health. The operator of Unit 2 was not wearing a helmet. He was treated and released on scene.

At 1:58 p.m. Thursday, South Dakota Highway 34 and South Dakota Highway 79: A 2017 Ford F350 (Unit 1) was stopped at a traffic signal facing southbound at the intersection of SD Hwy 34 and SD Hwy 79. A 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was traveling eastbound on SD Hwy 34 attempting to make a left turn on to SD Hwy 79. As Unit 2 made the turn he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the trailer of Unit 1. Unit 2 passenger sustained minor injuries and was transported to Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. Neither occupant was wearing a helmet.

At 4:37 p.m. Thursday, Wildlife Loop Road, mile marker 5: A 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was eastbound near MM 5 Wildlife Loop Rd. Unit 1 failed to negotiate a right turn due to the exhaust dragging on the roadway. Unit 1 lost control and laid the motorcycle down in the middle of the road. The operator of Unit 1 was not wearing a helmet and sustained a serious non-life-threatening injury. The driver of Unit 1 was transported to Custer Monument Hospital via ambulance.

At 5:02 p.m. Thursday, Nemo Road near Box Elder Forks Road: A 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was riding south on Nemo Rd and ran off the roadway. The driver was separated from his motorcycle, coming to a rest in a ditch. The driver was not wearing a helmet and sustained minor injuries.

At 5:02 p.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, Mile marker 135: A 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Interstate 90 and struck the rear bumper of a 2020 Dodge Ram (Unit 2). Unit 1 ran off the road to the left and entered the median. Unit 1 traveled several hundred feet upright before it tripped and rolled. The driver of Unit 1 was separated from the motorcycle and came to final rest alongside Unit 1 in the median. The driver of Unit 1 was life-flighted to Monument Health with life-threatening injuries. The driver of Unit 1 was not wearing a helmet.

At 11:25 p.m. Thursday, Interstate 90, Exit 37: A 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 1) was stopped at the stop sign on the off ramp of Interstate 90 Exit 37 at its intersection with Pleasant Valley Road. A 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle (Unit 2) was southbound on Pleasant Valley Road. The driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 and entered the intersection. Unit 1 collided with Unit 2. Both drivers separated from their motorcycles after the collision. The driver of Unit 1 sustained minor injuries and was not transported. The driver of Unit 2 sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Monument Health in Sturgis. Neither driver was wearing a helmet.

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.