9-year-old girl killed in crash; Mitchell man charged with vehicular homicide

A 46-year-old Mitchell man was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide after being involved in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon that resulted in the death of a 9-year-old girl whose name has not yet been released.

Michael Sedlmeier has been charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular battery, aggravated eluding and drunken driving after he allegedly fled from Mitchell police in his vehicle, a 1998 Ford Taurus, Saturday afternoon. Police had observed the Taurus speeding on Main Street, a news release said.

The chase ended when Sedlmeier, while heading south on Duff Street, failed to stop at the intersection of Duff Street and First Avenue and collided with a 2009 GMC Yukon Denali occupied by a driver and five passengers.

The accident scene is adjacent to the block where the city of Mitchell's Public Safety Building is located. The building, which is at the south end of the downtown district, houses the city's police, fire, ambulance and communications divisions. The area was blocked off for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening as the accident investigation ensued.

All of the passengers in the Yukon Denali were transported to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, including a 9-year-old girl who suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

Sedlmeier attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was chased and apprehended by Mitchell police officers.

The DUI Sedlmeier is charged with would be his third such offense.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the incident with assistance from the state Division of Criminal Investigation. The name of the girl and the names of the other people in the Denali have not yet been released.

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