51-YEAR-OLD, 11-YEAR-OLD DIE IN CRASH AT MERIDIAN CORNER

From the South Dakota Department of Public Safety:

What:    Two vehicle double fatality crash
Where:  Junction of US 18 and US 81, eight miles south of Freeman, SD
When:   2:15p.m. Monday, June 24, 2024

Driver 1: Male, 51 years old, fatal injuries
Vehicle 1: 2002 Chevrolet Pickup
Seatbelt Use: No
Passenger 1: Male, 11 years old, fatal injuries
Seatbelt Use: No

Driver 2: Male, 27 years old, no injuries
Vehicle 2: 2005 Peterbilt Semi
Seatbelt Use: No

Two people suffered fatal injuries in a two-vehicle crash eight miles south of Freeman this afternoon.

The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.

Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2002 Chevrolet pickup was traveling northbound on US Highway 81 at the junction of US Highway 18. At the same time, a 2005 Peterbilt tractor/trailer was traveling southbound at the same intersection.

The driver of the pickup failed to yield as he turned west onto US 18 and both vehicles collided in the intersection, coming to rest in the southwest ditch of the junction. The driver and passenger in the pickup were not wearing seatbelts and both were fatally injured in the crash. The driver of the semi also was not wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.