Meade County, S.D.- An 83-year-old woman died Friday morning when a trailered boat came unhitched and collided with her vehicle head-on near Sturgis, SD.
Preliminary crash information indicates Carol J. Olson, the driver of a 2016 Chrysler 300 was traveling south on SD Highway 79 near mile marker 124. At the same location, Cody A. Thomson, the driver of a 2022 Ford F-350 pulling a trailered pontoon boat, was traveling north when the trailer coupler disconnected from the pickup and the safety chains failed to control the trailer and boat.
The trailer and boat entered the southbound lane and collided with the Chrysler. The trailer, boat, and Chrysler came to rest on the southbound shoulder and in the west ditch. Olson received fatal injuries. There were no injuries to the driver and passenger of the pick-up.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
What: Two vehicle fatal crash
Where: SD Highway 79, mile marker 124, 11 miles north of Sturgis, SD
When: 10:21 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2024
Driver 1: Cody Alan Thomson, 44-year-old male from Summerset, SD, no injuries
Vehicle 1: 2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty
Seatbelt Use: No
Passenger 1: Steven Russell Baumker, 44-year-old male from Rapid City, SD, no injuries
Seatbelt Use: Yes
Driver 2: Carol Jean Olson, 83-year-old female from Faith, SD, fatal injuries
Vehicle 2: 2016 Chrysler 300
Seatbelt Use: Yes