Names Released in Brule County Fatal Crash

What:    Two vehicle fatal crash
Where:  Interstate 90, mile marker 272, one mile southwest of Pukwana, SD
When:   11:40 a.m., Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Vehicle 1: 2007 Ford Mustang
Driver 1: Stephanie Lynn Elder, 57-year-old female from Mitchell, SD, no injuries
Seatbelt Use: No

Vehicle 2: 1997 Ford F150
Driver 2: Leonard Alan Kocer, 64-year-old male from Wagner, SD, fatal injuries
Seatbelt Use: No

Brule County, S.D.- A 64-year-old man died in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning near Pukwana, SD.

Preliminary crash information indicates Stephanie L. Elder, the driver of a 2007 Ford Mustang and Leonard A. Kocer, the driver of a 1997 Ford F150 were traveling westbound on Interstate 90 near mile marker 272. The Mustang collided with the rear of the F150, causing Kocer to lose control. The truck entered the north side ditch where it rolled, ejecting the driver. The driver of the Mustang also lost control and entered the north side ditch.

Kocer was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Elder was uninjured. Both drivers were not wearing seatbelts.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.

The Highway Patrol is an agency 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.