UPDATE: Victims of deadly pickup vs. train collision identified

December 12, 2022

HARRISBURG, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota State Patrol has identified the two people who died after a pickup truck collided with a train near Harrisburg.

The Patrol said Sunday that 45 year-old Jennifer Torgerson, and 12 year-old Kaylee Torgerson , both of Harrisburg, died at the scene of the crash about a mile south of Harrisburg Wednesday evening. The truck’s driver, 44 year-old Philip Torgerson of Harrisburg, sustained life-threatening injuries and was flown by helicopter to a Sioux Falls hospital.

Authorities have said Philip Torgerson was driving west, but didn’t yield at the railroad crossing and collided with the train. He could face charges, but the State Patrol is still investigating.

The train’s operator, a 43-year-old Jason Husted of Sioux City, Iowa, was not hurt in the crash.