FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, January 17, 2026
CONTACT: Brad Reiners, DPS Communications Director, 605.280.2050
Lyman County Multi-Vehicle Fatal Crash
What: Multi vehicle fatal crash
Where: Interstate 90, mile marker 244, five miles west of Reliance, SD
When: 3:44 p.m., Friday, January 16, 2026
Driver 1: 50-year-old male from Locust Grove, VA, no injuries
Vehicle 1: 2025 Kenworth
Seat belt Used: Yes
Driver 2: 28-year-old male from Colome, SD, fatal injuries
Vehicle 2: 2008 Mercury Sable
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 2a: 27-year-old male from Martin, SD, fatal injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 2b: 27-year-old male from Alexandria, SD, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: Under investigation
Passenger 2c: 26-year-old male from Hartford, SD, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: Under investigation
Driver 3: 71-year-old male, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Vehicle 3: 2025 Ford F-150
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 3a: 72-year-old female, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 3b: 46-year-old female, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Passenger 3c: 19-year-old female, no injuries
Seat belt Used: Yes
Driver 4: 59-year-old male, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Vehicle 4: 2013 Ford F-150
Seat belt Used: No
Passenger 4a: 54-year-old female, serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Seat belt Used: No
Driver 5: 52-year-old female, minor injuries
Vehicle 5: 2010 GMC Yukon
Seat belt Used: Yes
Lyman County, S.D.- Two people died and several were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Friday afternoon, five miles west of Reliance, SD.
The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
Preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2025 Kenworth was traveling westbound on Interstate 90 near mile marker 244 and had slowed down due to a possible crash in front of him. A 2008 Mercury Sable collided with the rear end of the semi, and a chain reaction of collisions including a 2025 Ford F-150, a 2013 Ford F-150, and a 2010 GMC Yukon occurred.
The two front seat passengers in the Mercury Sable were pronounced deceased at the scene. Two other passengers in the vehicle sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and two passengers in the 2025 Ford F-150 sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries while a fourth passenger was uninjured.
The driver and a passenger in the 2013 Ford F-150 both received serious, non-life-threatening injuries. The 2010 GMC Yukon sustained minor injuries, and the driver of the Kenworth had no injuries.
Weather conditions with whiteout visibility were a contributing factor in the crash.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.