LETCHER, S.D. – Two people died Thursday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash northeast of Letcher.

Names of the two men involved are not being released pending notification of family members.

A 2000 Mack Truck CH600 garbage truck was northbound on Highway 37 near the James River bridge when the vehicle left the roadway to the right. Based on the initial evidence, investigators believe there may have been an equipment failure. The vehicle went through the guardrail and vaulted an embankment, ending in the James River.

The truck was found during a search of the James River Saturday. The bodies of the two men were found during the recovery of the truck from the river on Sunday afternoon. The speed of the flood waters on the river made the search and recovery difficult.

Agencies involved in the search and recovery included the Sanborn County Sheriff’s Office, Miner County Sheriff’s Office, Beadle County Dive Team, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, South Dakota Department of Transportation and Lincoln Auto Towing of Huron.

The public is asked to stay away from the recovery area.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is part of the Department of Public Safety.