Sturgis
Without a motorcycle helmet law for adults, we all pay
There’s a legend in journalism circles about a metropolitan daily newspaper that published a weak editorial page that was squeamish about taking a stand on anything. The paper was so consistently wishy-washy that the editorial writers had their keyboards fixed so that if they hit control-T, their computers automatically typed: “This bears watching.” This time […]
The holy Sturgis trinity: Noem, Jesus and family
A warning to all non-South Dakotans: If you bring your family to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally expecting to meet Jesus, you’re likely to be disappointed. Maybe even offended. That public service announcement has become necessary to correct the record after a glowing assessment of the rally’s rectitude last week from Gov. Kristi Noem. She started […]
At least 11 die in motorcycle accidents before and during Sturgis rally
Three more people died in motorcycle crashes over the weekend as the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ended, bringing the total number of traffic deaths officially and unofficially connected with this year’s rally to at least 11. The rally began Aug. 4 and ended Sunday. Traffic counters recorded roughly 458,000 vehicles in Sturgis, which was down […]
Another death raises motorcycle rally’s fatality count
There has been another traffic fatality associated with this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The latest death happened Thursday when a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 and hit a 2008 GMC Yukon head-on, according to the Highway Patrol. The 61-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was wearing […]
State investigating officer-involved shooting in Sturgis
State officials are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Wednesday in Sturgis, according to Attorney General Marty Jackley. One person was injured, Jackley’s office said in a news release, but officers were unharmed. The state Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting the investigation at the request of the state Highway Patrol. The timing of the […]
Traffic counts plummet during motorcycle rally’s first four days
Traffic counters recorded a 16% decline from five-year averages during the first four days of this year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally, according to the state Department of Transportation. Counts at nine locations entering Sturgis were down 13% from the five-year average on Friday, and were down 37% from the five-year average on Saturday. The counts rebounded […]
Two deaths, fewer citations mark third official day of Sturgis bike rally
Two people died in motorcycle crashes on the third official day of the Sturgis rally. The rally’s first fatality took place before 10 a.m. Sunday just southeast of Sturgis on Interstate 90, when the rider of a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle braked unexpectedly, causing a van to rear-end the bike. Another motorcycle with a sidecar […]