FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014

CONTACT: Capt. Rob Weinmeister, Lt. Caleb Walters or Lt. Doug Coughlin,

                    S.D. Highway Patrol, 605-626-2286

              Corson County Fatal Crash

What: Two-vehicle fatal crash

Where: US Highway 12, entrance to Grand River Casino, west of Mobridge, SD

When: Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, 11:13 a.m.

Driver 1: Edward Matthew Schweitzer, 73, Mobridge, SD, serious injuries

Vehicle 1: 2005 Chevrolet K3500 pickup

Driver 2: Kaisagarr L. Tavia-Fiatoa Sr., 71, Eagle Butte, SD, fatal

Passenger 1: Alma Faith Tavia-Fiatoa, 61, Eagle Butte, SD, fatal

Vehicle 2: 1996 GMC Sierra

MOBRIDGE, S.D. – Two people died in a two-vehicle crash on U.S Highway 12 at the entrance to the Grand River Casino west of Mobridge on Saturday, Aug. 2

Kaisagarr L. Tavia-Fiatoa, Sr., 71, of Eagle Butte, S.D., was driving a 1996 GMC Sierra. He exited the parking lot of the casino and turned west onto Highway 12 into the path of a 2005 Chevrolet K3500 pickup driven east by Edward Matthew Schweitzer, 73, of Mobridge. The Tavia-Fiatoa vehicle came to rest in the north ditch. The Schweitzer vehicle entered the north ditch, went through a fence and came to rest in a pasture.

Tavia-Fiatoa and a passenger, Alma Faith Tavia-Fiatoa, 61, also of Eagle Butte, were thrown from their vehicle and died at the scene. Neither was wearing a seatbelt.

Schweitzer, who was wearing a seatbelt, received serious injuries and was taken to a Mobridge hospital.

No further information is immediately available.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol investigated. Corson County Sheriff’s Office,

Standing Rock BIA, Mobridge Fire Department, Mobridge Ambulance and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks personnel assisted.

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