FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 5, 2012

CONTACT: Capt. Kevin Joffer, Lt. Alan Welsh or Lt. Paul Gerken, SD Highway Patrol, (605) 367-5700

             Charges Filed in Fatal Sioux Falls Pursuit, Crash

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kyle Lee Jones of Sioux Falls is being charged with manslaughter, grand theft and other crimes in connection with a pursuit and fatal crash in Sioux Falls on Thursday, March 1.

Jones, 19, was hospitalized following the crash. He was released from the hospital on Monday and taken into custody by Minnehaha County Sheriff’s deputies. He is charged with:

-          First degree manslaughter

-          Second degree manslaughter

-          Grand theft

-          Aggravated eluding

-          Possession of a stolen vehicle

-          Reckless driving

-          And driving under the age of 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs.

Jones was the driver of a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban that crashed into another vehicle during the pursuit. The driver of the other vehicle, Jade Thie, 33, of Sioux Falls, died in the crash, which happened at Cliff Avenue North and 60^th Street North. Thie’s vehicle was stopped in a turn lane when the crash occurred. Jones and two other people were injured in the crash.

Sioux Falls Police had received a report that the Suburban was stolen. They stopped Jones, but he fled, initiating a brief pursuit that was terminated just before the fatal crash.

Bond has been set at $500,000.

No further information is immediately available.

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