Tue Aug 05 10:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The first report from the South Dakota Highway Patrol on the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally indicates a deadly start. As of Sunday morning, one motorcyclist has died and 17 others have been injured in 14 crashes. The fatal crash occurred on Saturday when a rider lost control and collided with oncoming motorcycles. Many of the crashes were attributed to rider actions, including rear-end collisions. Helmet use among riders involved in crashes was low. DUI arrests are down compared to last year.

**News Article:**

**Sturgis Rally Off to Deadly Start: One Dead, 17 Injured in Motorcycle Crashes**

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is underway, but the first few days have been marred by tragedy. The South Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) reports one fatality and 17 injuries in 14 crashes as of Sunday morning.

The fatal crash occurred Saturday around 9:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 16A, when a 58-year-old motorcyclist lost control, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck three other motorcycles. Three other riders suffered serious injuries in that incident. Authorities clarified that a separate fatal motorcycle crash near Deadwood on Thursday is not being counted as a rally statistic.

Preliminary data indicates that many of the injury crashes were due to rider error, including two incidents where motorcycles rear-ended stopped vehicles. One motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in these rear-end collisions. The SDHP also noted a concerning trend: approximately half of the riders involved in crashes were not wearing helmets.

While this year’s early crash statistics are higher than last year (eight injury crashes, no fatalities at this time last year), DUI arrests are down. As of Sunday morning, the SDHP had made 21 driving under the influence arrests, a decrease of nine from the same period last year.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally continues through August 10th. The SDHP is urging riders to exercise caution and prioritize safety throughout the event.

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