FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015
Contact:  Capt. Kevin Karley, Lt. Jason Ketterling, Lt. Ted Garstenshlager,
South Dakota Highway Patrol, 605-394-2286 or
Tony Mangan, Department of Public Safety, 605-773-6196

Lawrence County Fatal Crash

What:  One vehicle fatal crash
Where: Interstate 90, mile marker 13, between Spearfish exits 14 and 12
When: 4:03 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015

Driver:  Kurtis Tallmage, 30, Sturgis, S.D., Fatal

Passenger: Ashley Kemp, 30, Sturgis, S.D., Serious Non-Life Threatening Injuries

Vehicle: 2000 Ford Focus

SPEARFISH, S.D. – A Sturgis, S.D. man identified as Kurtis Tallmage, 30, has died as a result of injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash that occurred Wednesday, Sept. 30, near Spearfish.

Tallmage was driving west on Interstate 90 when he lost control of his 2000 Ford Focus. The vehicle went into the ditch and struck a post. Tallmage, who suffered life threatening injuries, was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital where he later died.

Ashley Kemp, 30, Sturgis, S.D., was the other occupant in the vehicle. She sustained serious non-life threatening injuries.

Neither occupant wore a seat belt.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Other agencies responding to the scene were the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the Spearfish Police Department.

The Highway Patrol is part 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.