SF Car Crash Kills One, Injures Many

by Ashley Kringen, Reporter
February 14, 2013 8:03 PM


The driver of the Chevy Blazer that started a chain reaction car crash is dead and six people injured following a seven vehicle car crash that took place in Sioux Falls Thursday at the intersection of 41st and Minnesota.

Police said the initial call came in at 11:50 a.m. about an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed on Minnesota crashing into cars, hitting a sign, flipping over and landing in an empty lot.

Witnesses who watched the crash happen right before their eyes were in disbelief at the time of the accident.

"It's tragic because I think someone actually lost their life in that accident," said Hinrickson.

Clyde Hinrickson said he was stopped at light on Minnesota when he noticed a Chevy Blazer behind him traveling fast, toward his car.

"I was just stopped and I seen him in my rear view mirror and he come whipping around me, he almost hit me," said Hinrickson.

Then Hinrickson watched the deadly accident unfold.

"He hit the Durango, went up on the curb, ramped up, hit the sign sideways, did a couple turns and flipped over in the lot," said Hinrickson.

"The reports say it was traveling at a high rate of speed. We've heard different numbers anywhere from 65 to 100 miles per hour, " said Officer Clemens.

Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Deptartment said the Chevy Blazer was traveling north-bound on Minnesota when the driver struck a Dodge Durango, which in turn struck a pickup.

The blazer then hit a sign for Taylor's Pantry on the Southeast corner of Minnesota and 41st, flipped a couple of times, landing in an empty lot.

Now it's up to investigators to try to put the pieces together, to find out exactly what cased this fatal crash.

"They'll look at all the physical evidence which includes skid marks, gouges that are in the road, the damage that was done to the other vehicles, there's a lot of physical evidence that plays into this," said Clemens.

As Hinrickson recalls the tragic crash from start to finish, he said he was relieved to see the children involved in the accident, seemed to be conscious and moving.

"I'm just glad none of them we're really hurt," said Hinrickson.

Police said it’s been a while since they've seen a crash involving this many cars and people injured in quite some time.

The speed limit on Minnesota is 30-miles-per hour.

Officials said it's too early to tell if alcohol or drugs are a factor in this crash.