ESTELLINE, S.D. (Press Release) – An Estelline, S.D., man died Thursday afternoon in a crash involving a semi-truck and an utility terrain vehicle (UTV) north of Estelline.
Both vehicles were northbound on 465th Avenue. A loaded semi-truck and trailer entered the southbound lane to pass the UTV. While the semi-truck was attempting to pass the UTV, the UTV suddenly moved into the southbound lane. The semi-truck attempted to avoid the crash by swerving into the west ditch, but it struck the left front corner of the UTV.
Scott Thompson, the 52-year-old driver of UTV, was not wearing a seat belt or helmet. He was thrown from the vehicle and later died from his injuries at the Watertown hospital.
Levi Tschetter of Castlewood, S.D. was the 79-year-old male driver of the semi-truck. He was wearing his seat belt and was not injured.
South Dakota’s Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. All information is only preliminary at this point.
The Highway Patrol is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.