An Omaha, Nebraska, woman was identified as the second person killed in a fatal crash at the 2019 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Debra Milota, 59, was riding her motorcycle west on U.S. Highway 14A Tuesday afternoon, about six miles west of Lead, when she failed to negotiate a curve. She crossed the centerline into the path of an eastbound motorcycle.
The two riders on the other motorcycle, a 57-year-old male and a 53-year-old female passenger, sustained minor injuries. Both were wearing helmets.
Milota died of life-threatening injuries sustained from the crash on Friday. She was also wearing a helmet during the crash.
Milota’s death is the third connected to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year but the second related to a fatal crash. On Tuesday, an Omaha, Nebraska, man was found dead in his motor home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning.
The number of fatal crashes has decreased overall from last year’s rally. At this time last year, four people had been killed in crashes related to the rally.
But rally-related DUIs continue to rise, with a total of 157 arrests so far compared to 136 arrests over the same period of time in 2018. Drug arrests are also on the rise. One hundred and nine people have been arrested on felony drug charges, compared to 64 at this time last year; 192 people have been arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, compared to 150 at this time last year.
Friday injury accidents:
7:35 a.m., Interstate 90, mile marker 144, six miles west of Kadoka: A 2015 Ford F2S pickup, pulling a trailer with a motorcycle on it, was eastbound in the passing lane on I-90. The male driver observed a semi truck drifting into his lane and entered the median to avoid a crash. The driver, 70, was not injured. The female passenger, 58, sustained minor injuries. Both were wearing seat belts.
8:30 a.m., Vanocker Canyon Road, mile marker 8, eight miles south of Sturgis:The driver of a southbound motorcycle failed to negotiate a turn and crossed the center line, crashing into a northbound 2001 Ford F250 pickup. The male motorcycle driver, 36, received serious but not life-threatening injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. The pickup driver, 76, was not injured. He was wearing a seat belt.
10:40 a.m., Norris Peak Road near Bogus Jim Road, 12 miles west of Rapid City:A motorcycle was northbound on Norris Peak Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle entered the east ditch, but the driver drove the motorcycle out of the ditch, back onto Norris Peak Road, went across the center line and hit a southbound motorcycle head-on. The male driver of the first motorcycle, age 63, was airlifted to Rapid City. The two riders of the second motorcycle were taken by ambulance to Rapid City Regional. The driver was a 44-year-old male. The passenger was a 34-year-old female. All three suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries. None were wearing helmets.
Source: Argus Leader