24-YEAR OLD YANKTON WOMAN DIES IN HIGHWAY 81 ACCIDENT

From a press release issued by the Department of Public Safety:

A 24-year-old Yankton woman died and a passenger was injured in a single vehicle crash nine miles south of Freeman Monday morning, Feb. 3. The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 81 — about a mile south of Meridian Corner.

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

Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling north on Highway 81 near mile marker 25 when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and entered the east ditch and rolled.

The 24-year old driver received fatal injuries. A 31-year-old male passenger sustained minor injuries. Neither was wearing a seat belt, according to the Department of Public Safety.

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

The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.