Highway Patrol investigating separate fatal motorcycle crashes on opposite sides of the state

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating two fatal crashes involving motorcycles on two different sides of the state.

On Tuesday afternoon a 60 year old man driving a motorcycle died in a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 18 near Lennox.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says a pickup truck was traveling eastbound on US 18 in the left turning lane to turn northbound onto 466th Avenue. The motorcycle was westbound on US 18. The pickup collided with the Motorcycle, ejecting the rider, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and a passenger in the pickup were not injured.

Meanwhile, a 53 year old woman driving a motorcycle died Tuesday evening in a single-vehicle crash on US Highway 85, 13 miles southwest of Cheyenne Crossing. She apparently failed to negotiate a curve and the motorcycle overturned as it entered a ditch. The driver suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.