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SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL ROLL CALL
PERIOD ENDING 6/8/13

Fatalities	3	DUI Arrests	29
Injury Accidents	12	Felony DUI Arrests	1
Non-Injury Accidents	43	Misd. Warrants Served	13
Misd. Drug Arrests	20	Felony Warrants Served	4
Felony Drug Arrests	5	Other Felony Arrests	3
Overweight in excess of 5,000 lbs.	1	Drivers Placed Out-of-Service	23
Vehicles Placed Out-of-Service	62

HEADQUARTERS/POLICE SERVICE DOGS

June 3rd:

Trooper Mez and Police Service Dog Brix assisted the Lead Police Department with a search warrant on a house. The search revealed marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

ABERDEEN DISTRICT

June 2nd:

Trooper Hannan responded to a crash on a gravel road 18 miles north and 2 miles west of Mobridge.  An eastbound driver lost control causing the vehicle to enter the north ditch and roll.  The driver and passenger were ejected from the vehicle and received fatal injuries.  The Corson County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. The crash is still under investigation. 

Trooper Tedder responded to a crash west of Webster in Day County.  A westbound driver overcorrected after driving off the roadway causing the vehicle to roll into a slough.  The driver received fatal injuries as a result of the crash. The Day County Sheriff’s Office and the Webster Fire Department assisted at the scene.

June 3rd:

Trooper Gruman stopped a semi for traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-29.  An investigation revealed that the driver had a log book violation and three misdemeanor warrants issued from Union County.  The driver was taken into custody without incident.

June 5th:

Trooper Serr participated in a live radio show in Eureka.  He discussed several topics including highway safety.  He also answered questions pertaining to traffic laws.

June 6th:

Troopers Carda, Serr, and Recruit Filipiak gave a safety presentation to the Driver Education Class at Roncalli High School in Aberdeen.  They discussed general highway safety, the importance of wearing seatbelts, and the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and DUI. 

Trooper Spangenberg gave a safety presentation to the staff at Avera Medical in Pierre. He discussed the drug trends that are being seen in the Pierre area as well as the signs and symptoms of such usage.

Trooper Schroeder gave a safety presentation to the Driver Education Class in Huron.  Topics covered included DUI and traffic safety.

June 7th:

Trooper Kastein, Trooper Cerny, and Recruit Mobley gave safety presentations to Driver Education Classes at Watertown High School.

Troopers Norman and Maunu responded to a vehicle reported to be in a slough in Roberts County. When they arrived at the scene, they observed an abandoned Monte Carlo with the front bumper submerged in the water.  The headlights and taillights had been broken out and a spare tire was wedged between the driver seat and the accelerator. The vehicle was in gear and the license plate and keys were missing.  A check of the VIN revealed that the vehicle had been stolen from Sioux Falls. The investigation was turned over to Roberts County Sheriff’s Office.

Trooper Norman stopped a vehicle for a moving violation in Roberts County.  Following an investigation, the driver was charged with DUI.  It was also revealed that the driver had two Roberts County warrants. 

Trooper Pioske stopped a vehicle for a moving violation in Roberts County.  An investigation revealed that the driver had a Roberts County warrant for failure to pay fine. Bond was collected and the driver was released.

Trooper Pioske investigated a car versus deer crash near Holmquist. The front seat passenger was taken to the hospital in Webster for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries received when the air bag deployed.   

June 8th:

Troopers Hup, Carda, Pioske, Captain Weinmeister, and Edmunds County deputies responded to a female subject who had fired a .44 caliber handgun inside a residence and punched out a window.  She left the residence prior to law enforcement’s arrival and the handgun was missing.   The officers were able to locate her with the use of thermo imaging.  She was found passed out underneath a buffalo hide blanket next to an outbuilding.  She was taken into custody without incident.

 

SIOUX FALLS DISTRICT

June 2nd:

Trooper Husby stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation approximately 12 miles north of Elk Point on I-29.  Following an investigation, a search revealed marijuana and gummy candy infused with marijuana.  The occupants were arrested and charged accordingly.

June 4th:

Trooper Boltjes responded to a possible drunk driver reported to be traveling on SD 46 approximately eight miles west of Beresford.  Trooper Boltjes located the vehicle and stopped the driver for driving on the wrong side of the road.  The driver displayed obvious signs of impairment and Trooper Boltjes began a DUI investigation.  After field sobriety tests were completed, Trooper Boltjes arrested the driver for driving under the influence of prescription medication.

June 5th:

Troopers from the A Squad conducted a LIDAR saturation patrol on I-229. 

Trooper B. Lord stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation on West 12th Street in Sioux Falls.  The passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and gave a false name and date of birth. Through the course of the traffic stop, Trooper Lord learned the passenger’s true identity and that he had a warrant for his arrest for absconding from the Iowa Department of Corrections.  He had walked away from a residential treatment facility. He was taken into custody and charged accordingly. 

Trooper Lubbers responded to a car versus deer crash north of Tripp on SD 37.  The deer collided into the windshield of the car causing the car’s roof to peel back.  The female driver received minor injuries and the female passenger received serious injuries.  The passenger was transported to the hospital in Parkston and was later flown to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

June 7th:

Trooper Matheny responded to assist a motorist eight miles south of Brookings on I-29.  An investigation revealed that the male driver of the disabled vehicle had three outstanding felony warrants issued from Plymouth County, Iowa.  The subject was taken into custody on the warrants. 

Troopers from the Vermillion Squad held a sobriety checkpoint south of Lesterville on 430th Avenue. 

Troopers from the Mitchell Squad and two McCook County deputies worked a saturation patrol of eastern McCook County near the Lake Vermillion State Park. 

Trooper Husby responded to a crash approximately one mile west of Tabor on SD 50.  The driver of an eastbound semi-truck pulling a loaded cattle trailer had slowed to make a left turn.  The driver of an eastbound mini-van failed to notice the semi and rear-ended the back of the cattle trailer.  The driver of the mini-van sustained fatal injuries and the two passengers in the mini-van sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. Trooper Duran-Garcia oversaw the evidence collection and mapped the crash scene. Sergeant Millard and motor carrier personnel also assisted with the investigation.

June 8th:

Trooper Baker investigated a crash on I-90 near Presho.  The driver of a semi-tractor pulling double trailers made an illegal U-turn using a crossover on I-90 and turned in front of a westbound motorcyclist.  The motorcyclist made an evasive maneuver and was able to avoid colliding with the semi but lost control of the motorcycle.  The bike went down and the motorcyclist and his passenger received injuries.  They were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.  The semi driver was cited for illegal crossover use. The Lyman County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. 

RAPID CITY DISTRICT

June 4th:

 

Trooper Adam assisted Federal Motor Carrier Agent Noel Gabriel with a drug arrest at the Tilford Port of Entry.  Agent Gabriel located what he thought was meth while conducting an inspection on a driver of a tractor-trailer.  Following an investigation, Trooper Adam arrested the driver and charged him accordingly.

Trooper Schopp responded to a vehicle fire approximately four miles east of Deadwood on US14A. When he arrived at the scene, he observed the vehicle totally engulfed in flames. The driver was able to escape from the vehicle without injury.  The roadway was closed for ½ hour while Deadwood Fire and Rescue put out the fire.  

 

June 5th:

Lieutenant Miller responded to a driving complaint on I-90 in Jackson County near Kadoka.  Trooper Welter also responded to assist with the stop.  Following an investigation, Trooper Welter arrested the driver for driving under the influence of prescription drugs.  It was also revealed that the passenger was under the influence of prescription drugs.  Both subjects were taken into custody and charged accordingly. 

 

Trooper Fox responded to a car versus elk crash approximately three miles west of Whitewood on SD 34.  A vehicle struck a mature bull elk as it crossed the roadway. The driver was transported to the Spearfish Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries received during the crash.  

Trooper Goldsmith investigated a motorcycle crash south of  Reva on SD 79.  A motorcyclist fell asleep and drove into the ditch.  The motorcyclist was thrown from the motorcycle. He was wearing a helmet and received only minor injuries.

Trooper Regan responded to a crash ten miles north of Rapid City on Elk Creek Road. The driver became distracted, drifted off the road, and then overcorrected causing the vehicle to roll onto its roof. The driver, a passenger, and a 3-month-old child were all properly buckled up and received only minor injuries. The Meade County Sheriff’s Office and Rapid City Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.

June 6th:

Trooper Riley responded to a fatal plane crash involving a single pilot flying a crop duster approximately ten miles east of Ludlow in Harding County. Trooper Riley assisted with preserving the scene while officials responded. The crash remains under investigation by the FAA.

June 7th:

Troopers Thomas and Collins gave safety presentations to the Lead/Deadwood Driver Education Classes. They discussed seatbelt usage and impaired driving.  The students were allowed to utilize the SIDNE Go-Carts with and without the Fatal Vision Goggles demonstrating the possible deadly consequences that alcohol and other drugs have on a person’s driving ability.

June 8th:

 

Troopers Dirk and Thomas investigated a crash four miles west of Sturgis on US14A.  The driver of a westbound Dodge pickup lost control and collided with a Chevy in the eastbound traffic lane. The driver of the Chevy received injuries and was transported to the Sturgis Regional Hospital. The driver of the Dodge refused medical treatment.  He was later charged with 2nd offense DUI.  

MOTOR CARRIER

June 2nd:

Trooper Berndt stopped to check on a motorist experiencing car problems south of Aberdeen on US 281. An investigation revealed that the driver had a Mellette County warrant for an unpaid speeding citation. The driver posted the bond on the warrant.

June 4th – 6th:

Motor Carrier troopers and inspectors from across the state participated in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Road Check Event.  Numerous safety inspections were completed on commercial motor vehicles to ensure the safety of the motoring public. 

 

June 5th:

 

Trooper Berndt conducted an inspection on an Iowa carrier west of Aberdeen on US 12. Following an investigation, a search of the vehicle revealed methamphetamine and a snort tube. The Iowa male driver was subsequently arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was transported to the Brown County Jail. The truck was released to another employee of the company.

Inspector Lounsbery conducted a safety inspection on a tractor semi-trailer at the Sioux Falls Port of Entry.  During the inspection, he discovered that the driver had a warrant for his arrest issued from Grant County for failure to appear on an overweight citation.  The driver posted bond for the warrant and was allowed to continue his trip.

Trooper Berndt conducted an inspection on a SD carrier hauling sand south of Aberdeen on US 281. He weighed the vehicle and found it to be 10,700 pounds overweight on axles 2-3 and 6,100 pounds overweight on commercial licensing. The SD driver was issued a citation and was required to offload the overweight portion of the load.

Inspector Lyngstad conducted a safety inspection on an Idaho driver at the Jefferson Port of Entry.  During the course of the inspection, he detected the odor of alcohol on the driver.  Trooper Halm was contacted for assistance.  Following an investigation, Trooper Halm arrested the driver for DUI. Inspector Lyngstad issued the driver a citation for possession of an intoxicating beverage.  The driver was transported to Union County Jail.

June 7th:

 

Manager Barto conducted a safety inspection on a Kansas driver at the Jefferson Port of Entry.  During the inspection process, she discovered that the driver had a Florida warrant for a probation violation.

June 8th:

Inspectors Fischer and Lentz of the Sioux Falls Mobile Team provided a safety presentation to the Tow Truck Association of South Dakota.  The presentation focused on the updated Hours of Service regulations.

Trooper Dirk responded to a possible drunk driver reported west of Whitewood on I-90.    He located the vehicle and observed it traveling 112 mph near the Black Hill National Cemetery.  Trooper Dirk conducted a traffic stop on the driver and arrested him for 4th offense DUI. 

Inspectors Rutz and Walters acted as judges at the Pete Lien Drivers Challenge held at the SD School of Mines. Questions pertaining to load securement, updated hours of service regulations, and general motor carrier topics were answered.