The latest count from the Meade County Sheriff’s Department released Monday showed a significant uptick in calls to service on Sunday with 194 compared to 133 last year. Traffic stops also rose sharply with 94 compared to 67 the year before. They also reported 5 DUI arrests, and 1 drug arrest, but did not respond to any assaults or crashes for the 24 hour period running Sunday. Meade County processed 38 people at the county Jail during their morning court session.
The daily report for Sunday from the Sturgis police showed 232 calls for service leaving the total at 666 through the 1st 3 days. Overall arrests are down while parking citations are pacing ahead of last year. Drug related arrests and citations are pacing about 30% ahead of 2024 and there have been 22 DUI arrests under Sturgis Police jurisdiction thus far compared to 10 during the same period a year ago.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol meanwhile is reporting fewer arrests for driving under the influence and drug-related offenses thus far.
Troopers reported 38 DUI arrests through 6 a.m. Monday morning. At the same time last year, state police had made 50 arrests for the same crime.
Drug arrests are also down, with troopers making 33 felony drug arrests and 65 misdemeanor drug arrests through Monday morning, a 29% decrease in total compared to 2024 statistics.
Ten people were injured in seven separate motorcycle crashes from Sunday into Monday during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s daily “Rally Tally.” Two incidents were serious enough to require helicopter transport to Rapid City hospitals.
Among the crashes, one involved a deer on U.S. 14A; another, a tree strike near Stockade Lake after the rider missed a curve; and a two-bike collision on I-90 near Tilford caused by sudden traffic slowdown. Other accidents included a motorcycle colliding with a Jeep near Pactola Lake, a crash caused by gravel on SD Highway 40 near Keystone, a steering malfunction west of Sturgis, and a ditch entry on Spring Creek Road near Rapid City.
While injuries ranged from minor to serious, many riders were not wearing helmets. All investigations were conducted by state troopers and do not reflect data from other local agencies.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol says there were two deadly crashes late last week involving out-of-state bikers. Two people were killed and another person hospitalized.
The first crash was Thursday, July 3, in Fremont County. A rider lost control of his motorcycle on a curve on WY 135 south of Riverton and went off the road. The motorcycle traveled about 400 feet before hitting a fence.
The rider, Mark Byrd, 67, of San Diego, died on scene. Byrd was wearing his helmet. Rider fatigue and speed are being looked at as possible causes of this crash.
The second crash was Friday, Aug. 1, in Niobrara County south of Newcastle. A rider on US 85 turned into the Mule Creek Junction Rest Area, directly in front of a SUV.
The rider, Joseph Pandolfi, 73, of South Daytona, Fla,, was not wearing a helmet and died on scene. The passenger, identified as Kathleen Marin, 64, also of South Daytona, was taken by ambulance to Niobrara County Memorial and was hospitalized.
The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital for treatment before being released.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, rider inattention on the part of Pandolfi is being looked at as a possible cause in this crash.
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