FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   Friday, September 11, 2009
CONTACT:  1st Sergeant Don Allen, South Dakota Highway Patrol, 605.394.2286

When:  September 11, 2009

Who:  Driver:  Tracey L. Poteat, age 42, of Ridgeway, SC (fatality)
           Passenger:  Oliver P. Wright, age 30, of Bozeman, MT

Alcohol involved:  No

Investigation status: Active

Description:  On September 11, 2009, Tracy L. Poteat was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer pulling a trailer, traveling eastbound on Interstate 90 in the passing lane.  Near milepost 81, the vehicle dropped off of the traveled portion of the roadway on the median side.  The driver overcorrected and the vehicle swerved to the right, re-entered the roadway, and started to fish-tail.  The driver was unable to regain control of the vehicle.  The vehicle entered the median and rolled over.  The trailer became detached and broke apart in the median.  The vehicle came to rest on its top in the westbound lane of Interstate 90.  The driver suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash.  The passenger was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital.  Evidence at the scene indicates the vehicle was traveling in excess of the posted 75 miles per hour speed limit.  Both the driver and passenger were wearing seatbelts.

Assisting were:  Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, New Underwood Ambulance, Pennington County Search and Rescue, and Lifeflight.