ESTELLINE, S.D. (Press Release) – One person died Thursday afternoon in a crash involving a semi-truck and an utility terrain vehicle (UTV) north of Estelline.
Names of the two drivers are not yet being released pending notification of family members. They were the only people involved.
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.
The 52-year-old male 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. The 79-year-old male driver of the semi-truck, who was wearing his seat belt, 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.