RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – In the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s first report on the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, they noted one death and 17 injuries in 14 crashes as of Sunday morning.

The fatal crash was around 9:30 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 16A. A 58-year-old rider was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid into oncoming traffic, hitting three other bikes. Three other riders had serious injuries.

There was a fatal motorcycle crash Thursday near Deadwood, but that is not counted as a rally statistic.

When it comes to the 13 injury crashes, the only trend noticed this early in the rally is that most of the crashes were caused by rider actions, including the two crashes involving four-wheeled vehicles. In both bike-car crashes, the motorcyclist hit the back of stopped vehicles. One biker had serious injuries.

Causes of other reported motorcycle crashes with injuries:

• Rider locked front brake while turning onto a highway
• Rider lost control due to a flat tire
• Rider lost control on curves (two crashes)
• Riders on the center line collided
• Rider lost control while exiting the highway onto blocked road
• Rider crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another bike
• Rider hit another bike it was passing
• Rider lost control running from police (exhibition riding)

About half the riders involved in crashes did not wear helmets.

Last year at this time there were eight injury crashes, with no fatalities.

The SDHP also, as of Sunday morning, made 21 driving under the influence arrests, down nine from last year.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally runs from Aug. 1-10.

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