Rally Death Toll Rises To Three

The death toll from traffic accidents during this year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally has risen to three.

The Highway Patrol says the latest victim was a 55-year-old woman. She was a passenger on a motorcycle. It struck a calf that was loose Wednesday night on Highway 16 east of Hill City.

The driver was a 55-year-old male. He suffered life-threatening injuries. The Highway Patrol says neither victim wore a helmet.

Meanwhile, the Patrol also released the names of the rally’s first two fatal crash victims from a separate accident on Monday.

William Cooper, 22, of College Station, Texas, crossed the center line of Highway 14A near Sturgis. His motorcycle collided with two others. Cooper and 55-year-old Ronald Ratzel of Ceres, New York, both died.

Steven Peterson, 60, of Cuba, New York, drove the third motorcycle. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Highway Patrol says none of three men wore helmets.

The rally continues through Sunday.

Sturgis vehicle counts
(Source: Department of Transportation)

• Friday, August 7: 49,835 entering – down 4.3% from Friday last year
• Saturday, August 8: 54,804 entering – down 8.0% from Saturday last year
• Sunday, August 9: 56,149 entering – up 1.1% from Sunday last year
• Monday, August 10: 56,972 entering – down 6.8% from Monday last year
• Tuesday, August 11: 52,710 entering – down 11.2% from Tuesday last year
• Wednesday, August 12: 49,228 entering – down 12.4% from Wednesday last year
• Thursday, August 13: 46,263 entering – down 10.2% from Thursday last year
• 7 Day total: 2020, 365,979; 2019, 395,453; down 7.5%

Rally arrests, citations, accidents
(Source: Highway Patrol)