Four Dead, 80 Injured in 66 Crashes During 85th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Upon completion of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a final tally of injuries, arrests, and deaths has been calculated. Four people died and 80 others were injured across 66 crashes during the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s final tally. The fatalities included a 58-year-old man who failed to negotiate a curve near Mount Rushmore, a 60-year-old in a three-bike crash in the southern Black Hills, a 23-year-old killed when a pickup turned in front of his Honda near Rapid City’s airport, and a 28-year-old who died during a police pursuit.

Injury crashes nearly doubled compared to previous years, jumping from 35 in 2024 to 66 this year. However, DUI arrests dropped slightly to 119, and drug arrests were also down. Troopers made over 6,400 public contacts during the 10-day event, issuing citations and warnings. The rally brought in 425,875 vehicles this year, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.