UPDATE:
What: Two vehicle fatal crash
Where: North Cherry Avenue and East North Street, Rapid City, SD
When: 7:15 a.m. MT, Thursday, February 5, 2026
Vehicle 1: 2012 Jeep Liberty
Driver: Torry Ray Ghost Bear, 30-year-old male from Rapid City, SD, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: No
Charges Pending: Yes
Passenger 1a: Misty Kay RedNest, 43-year-old female from Pine Ridge, SD, minor injuries
Seat belt Used: No
Charges Pending: Yes
Passenger 1b: Mia Lane Carpio, 22-year-old female, fatal injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 1c: Feather Leann Cottier, 35-year-old female from Rapid City, SD, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: Under investigation
Passenger 1d: Kameron RedNest, 20-year-old male from Box Elder, SD, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: No
Vehicle 2: 2022 Ford F-350
Driver 2: Jorge Armando Mata Diaz, 31-year-old male from Rapid City, SD, minor injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Pennington County, S.D.- A routine traffic stop Thursday, February 5, led to a pursuit and two-vehicle crash injuring five people, one fatally, in Rapid City, SD.
Preliminary information indicates during an attempted traffic stop for not having any license plates, the driver of a 2012 Jeep Liberty failed to pull over and a pursuit was initiated. At one point, the driver, Torry Ray Ghost Bear, failed to stop at a stop sign, entering the intersection of North Cherry Avenue and East North Street and was struck by a 2022 Ford F350 driven by Jorge Armando Mata Diaz, traveling eastbound on East North Street.
Four occupants of the Jeep sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital. One of the occupants, Mia Lane Carpio, died Thursday, February 12 from her injuries. The driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries and was also transported to the hospital.
Charges are pending on two occupants of the Jeep.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A Feb. 5 traffic stop in Rapid City has turned fatal as a 22‑year‑old female passenger died Thursday as a result of injuries suffered in the two‑vehicle crash during a police pursuit.
Authorities say a Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a Jeep Liberty with no license plates. The driver fled, and during the chase, the Jeep ran a stop sign at North Cherry Avenue and East North Street, where it was struck by an eastbound Ford F‑350.
Four people in the Jeep were hospitalized with serious injuries. The Ford driver suffered minor injuries.
Names are being withheld pending family notification. Charges are pending for two occupants of the Jeep. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
Comments