Names Released In Yankton County Fatal Crash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 23, 2021

CONTACT: Tony Mangan, Public Information Officer, 605-280-5648

 

Names Released In Yankton County Fatal Crash

 

What:    Two-Vehicle Fatal Crash

Where:  U.S. Highway 81, miler marker 14

              11 miles north of Yankton, S.D.

When:   5:35 p.m., Friday, March 19, 2021

 

Driver No. 1: Willis Vanroekel, 64, Rock Rapids, Iowa, Minor Injuries

Vehicle: 2018 Freightliner Tractor and Trailer

 

Driver No. 2: Abigail Gilkerson, 19, Yankton, S.D., Fatal Injuries

Vehicle: 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited

 

YANKTON, S.D. – A 19-year-old female from Yankton has been identified as the person who died Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash north of Yankton.

 

Preliminary crash information indicates a 2010 Chrysler Sebring Limited was southbound on U.S. Highway 81 when it crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2018 Freightliner Tractor and Trailer.

 

Abigail Gilkerson, who was the driver of the Chrysler, died as a result of her injuries. Willis Vanroekel of Rock Rapids, Iowa, was the 64-year-old male driver of the tractor and trailer. He sustained minor injuries.

 

Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

 

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

 

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.