South Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) — The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released final numbers from the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This year’s event saw more injury crashes, fewer DUI arrests, and four rally-related deaths.
From August 1 through August 10, troopers reported 66 injury crashes across the region. Those incidents left 80 people hurt, with 27 crashes happening in Sturgis and 39 in surrounding areas. The numbers nearly double the 35 injury crashes recorded in 2023.
Four people were killed during the rally. The fatal crashes included two single-bike accidents on curves in the Black Hills, a pickup turning in front of a motorcycle near Rapid City, and a crash during a police pursuit north of Sturgis.
Notable non-fatal incidents included a Jeep leaving the road near Custer, a motorcyclist hitting a guardrail, and a deer strike injuring two riders.
Non-injury crashes were down this year at 27, compared to 54 in 2024. DUI arrests also fell slightly, with 119 arrests compared to 155 last year. Drug arrests decreased as well, with 266 misdemeanor and 104 felony arrests.
Troopers made nearly 6,500 official contacts during the rally. These included 1,524 citations and almost 5,000 written warnings. This figure is higher than in 2024 and 2023, showing increased patrol engagement.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol reminds riders to wear helmets, slow down on curves, and watch for wildlife. Rally-goers are also urged to avoid impaired driving to prevent more tragedies in future events.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally remains one of the largest gatherings of riders in the U.S., attracting hundreds of thousands each year to the Black Hills.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.