Undated (KELO AM) – It has been a bad weekend for motorcyclists so far in South Dakota. Three accidents on Friday have resulted in three deaths so fat this weekend.
A Sioux Falls man, identified as Jeremy Langley, 33, was killed in a motorcycle crash that happened Friday afternoon near Flandreau.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol says the crash occurred after a pursuit with law enforcement in Minnesota. Deputies from the Pipestone, MN Sheriff’s Office tried to initiate a traffic stop on the motorcycle, driven by Langley, in Pipestone for stop sign violation and exhibition driving.
Langley refused to stop. The pursuit covered 11 miles before the deputies ended the pursuit one mile east of the Minnesota/South Dakota border on 20th Avenue just north of 41st Street.
South Dakota law enforcement, who had been alerted to the pursuit, found Langley and the motorcycle lying in a ditch just north of a curve on 420th Street, 500 feet west of the border. Langley was pronounced dead at the scene.
In Watertown, a Lake Norden man, identified as Jeffrey McCray, died in a two-vehicle accident that happened Friday afternoon in Watertown.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol says McCray was one of two motorcycles traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 212. Witnesses stated that McCray was attempting to pass slow moving westbound traffic in the right side lane. McCray crashed into the rear end of a Watertown city maintenance truck, driven by Darwin Tortenson, 46, Watertown. The truck was parked at the crash scene to remove some landscaping rocks.
The Patrol says Tortenson had entered his truck and begun to move forward when he noticed the motorcycle traveling towards his location. Torstenson attempted to speed up in order to avoid the collision but was unable to do so. The truck's amber light was activated at the time of the crash. McCray died at a Watertown hospital. Tortenson was not injured. Speed may have been a factor in the crash. The investigation continues. Charges are pending.
And near Beresford, a Maryland resident lost his life when a semi clipped his motorcycle on Interstate 29 in heavy rain early Friday morning.