Man injured in motorcycle crash just north of Watertown

September 27, 2021

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–A man was injured in a car versus motorcycle accident just north of Watertown.

South Dakota Department of Public Safety spokesman Tony Mangan says it happened at 3:35 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 81, one-half mile north of the city.

A Chevy Cobalt has just passed a pair of motorcycles when he hit his brakes, and one of the cycles rear-ended his car.

The injured motorcyclist is a 42 year-old man from the Watertown area. His name was not released. He was taken to Prairie Lakes Hospital with serious non life-threatening injuries. Mangan says he was not wearing a helmet. 

The car was driven by 48 year-old James Thurman of Summit. He was not injured. Charges against him are pending. 

There were two juvenile males in the car. They were not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.