Fewer accidents so far at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

(KBHB, STURGIS, SD)- The South Dakota Highway Patrol released their latest rally report, and indications are it’s been a relatively safe rally.

As the rally begins to wind down, injury accidents are now down a little bit and drug arrests are also leveling off.

The patrol reported five injury crashes in the past 24 hours. One crash resulted in life-threatening injuries to a motorcyclist after he crashed into a ditch while traveling down U.S. Highway 14A two miles east of Deadwood.

The patrol did report a police motorcycle crashed while in pursuit of a private motorcycle early this morning.

Authorities say a Sturgis police motorcycle was pursuing a private motorcycle on Highway 14A in Boulder Canyon just after 2:00 a.m. when the officer lost control while taking a curve and went into the ditch. The officer was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered serious, but non life-threatening injuries.

The patrol also identified a biker who died in the week’s only fatality so far as 29-year-old Brandon Anderson of Norman, Oklahoma. Anderson died after crashing his motorcycle south of Lead on Monday.

The total number of injury accidents for the reporting period are at 33, down 3 from last year on this date.

As for DUI’s, the patrol says they remain 20 ahead of last year with 115 reported. Felony drug arrests are at 81, ahead of 46 on this date last year.