FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, November 23, 2013 

CONTACT:  Capt. Kevin Joffer, Lt. Alan Welsh or Lt. Paul Gerken,

                    S.D. Highway Patrol 605-367-5700

               Clay County Fatal Crash

What: Three-vehicle fatal crash

Where: S.D. Highway 46, three miles west of Beresford, S.D.

When: Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, 7:26 p.m.

Driver 1: Peter Auch, 16, Centerville, S.D., fatal injuries

Vehicle 1: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am

Driver 2: Diane Robertson, 54, Wagner, S.D., minor injuries

Vehicle 2: 2012 Buick Enclave

Driver 3: Dillon Buchanan, 18, Irene, S.D., serious non-life threatening injuries

Vehicle 3: 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

Passenger 1: Jacob Halldorson, 18, Madison, Minn., serious non-life threatening injuries

BERESFORD, S.D. – A 16 year-old from Centerville, S.D., died in a three vehicle crash that occurred Friday, Nov. 22 on Highway 46, three miles west of Beresford, S.D.

Peter Auch, 16, from Centerville, was driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am eastbound on S.D. Highway 46 near Beresford. Diane Robertson, 54, from Wagner, S.D., was driving a 2012 Buick Enclave westbound on S.D. Highway 46. A third vehicle, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Dillon Buchanan, 18, of Irene, S.D., was traveling westbound behind Robertson's Enclave. Buchanan's passenger was Jacob Halldorson, 18, of Madison, Minn.

Buchanan attempted to pass Robertson and as he moved into the eastbound lane, Auch's Grand Am was occupying the lane. Buchanan swerved left and struck a guardrail cable. The passenger side of his vehicle struck the center of the passenger's side of Auch's vehicle in a head on type manner. The result of the collision spun Auch's vehicle into the path of Robertson's vehicle which struck Auch's driver's side door.

Auch was air-lifted to Avera McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was wearing a seat-belt during the crash, but sustained fatal injuries. Robertson was wearing a seat-belt and sustained minor injuries during the crash. Buchanan and Halldorson were not wearing seat-belts. Buchanan was treated and released from the hospital. Halldorson sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating. Clay County Sheriff's Office, Beresford Police Department, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Beresford Fire Department, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Yankton County Sheriff’s Office assisted.

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