RAPID CITY, S.D. – Law enforcement officers across western South Dakota issued hundreds of citations and responded to eight major crashes, including one fatality, during a 24-hour period of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to figures released Sunday by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

The daily rally statistics, compiled from 6 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, show a total of 260 citations and 713 warnings issued across the region.State troopers made 21 DUI arrests, 32 misdemeanor drug arrests, 14 felony drug arrests, and 37 custodial arrests during the reporting timeframe.

In the Rapid City District alone, officers logged 144 citations, 236 warnings, four DUI arrests, 10 misdemeanor drug arrests, one felony drug arrest, and seven custodial arrests.

The single fatal crash of the 24-hour reporting period occurred at approximately 4:41 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 85 near mile marker 35. Authorities reported that a 72-year-old man was driving a 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle northbound when he applied his brakes to avoid a turning motorcycle ahead of him. He lost control, became separated from his motorcycle, and was transported to Monument Health in Spearfish, where he died from his injuries.

Seven injury crashes were also recorded across the area, including four within the Rapid City District:

At 9:19 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 16A near mile marker 33, a 68-year-old man driving a 2017 Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with the rear of a slowing 2026 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by a 60-year-old man and carrying a 61-year-old female passenger. All three riders were wearing helmets and received non-life-threatening injuries.

At 11:20 a.m. Saturday at North Rochford Road and U.S. Highway 14A, a 67-year-old man riding northbound in a group lost control on a left curve. He became separated from his 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and landed on the shoulder. He was not wearing a helmet and was life-flighted to Monument Health in Rapid City with serious injuries.

At 11:46 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 14A near mile marker 32, a 59-year-old man driving an eastbound 2018 Harley-Davidson motorcycle failed to negotiate a curve, entered the ditch, and separated from his bike. He was transported to Lead-Deadwood Monument Health for treatment.

At 4:50 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 14A near mile marker 47, an eastbound 2026 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by a 54-year-old man was struck when an unidentified westbound vehicle crossed the center line. The driver was transported to Monument Health for treatment.

At 6:32 p.m. Saturday on South Dakota Highway 44 near mile marker 34, a 39-year-old man driving a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a 28-year-old female passenger switched lanes and struck a turning 2019 Subaru Forester operated by a 66-year-old woman. The driver of the Subaru was transported to Monument Health for minor injuries.

At 6:48 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 16 near mile marker 59, a 69-year-old man lost control of his westbound 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle following a rear tire failure. The driver, who was wearing a helmet, was separated from the bike and transported to Monument Health.

At 7:34 p.m. Saturday on South Dakota Highway 44 near mile marker 59, a 45-year-old woman driving an eastbound 2008 Harley-Davidson motorcycle took Exit 59 off Interstate 90 behind a slowing 2007 Toyota Camry driven by a 60-year-old woman. The motorcyclist lost control, became separated from her motorcycle, and collided with the rear vehicle.She was not wearing a helmet and was transported to Monument Health in Rapid City for her injuries.

State authorities noted that “all information released so far is only preliminary”. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.