TYNDALL -- Three people were injured and one killed in four different car accidents over the weekend, according to authorities.
The most severe was early Sunday morning, when Jimmi Rose Van Gerpen, 27, of Avon, died on Sunday in a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 37, 6 miles south of Tyndall.
According to a press release from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Van Gerpen was driving a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix east on 309th Avenue, approaching the intersection of Highway 37. She failed to stop at the stop sign and was struck by a southbound 2002 Ford Ranger driven by Oscar Torres, 44, of Tripp.
Both vehicles slid off the roadway and onto the southeast shoulder of the intersection. The crash caused Van Gerpen's vehicle to roll through a barbed wire fence and into a field.
Van Gerpen suffered fatal injuries in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt. Torres received minor injuries in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt.
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The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating. Bon Homme County Sheriff's Office, Springfield Police Department, Springfield Fire Department and Tyndall Fire Department assisted.
A death notice published on Page A6 of today's edition says Van Gerpen is a Pukwana native. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain, with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Friday with a 7 p.m. prayer service the United Church of Christ.
Highway Patrol responded to two more accidents in Bon Homme County on Sunday. Around 9:19 a.m., Trooper Grant Lubbers said two vehicles collided at the intersection of Highway 52 and Kramer Road, southwest of Tabor.
According to Lubbers, Claudia Swartz, a 43-year-old from Springfield, was eastbound on Highway 52 in a 2003 Honda Accord when Dennis Duncan, a 67-year-old from Parker, was southbound on Kramer Road. Lubbers said Duncan failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection, and the vehicles collided. Swartz was transported to Yankton's hospital with minor injuries. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Duncan was cited for a stop sign violation.
On the same day, Lubbers responded to a single-vehicle accident in Scotland. Around 11:30 a.m., Marilynn Bierle, 77, of Scotland, was driving a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country minivan south on First Street when she passed out and lost control of the vehicle. Lubbers said the minivan left the roadway, went through part of one yard, over a road, through another yard, through a gravel parking lot, then ran into a building. Bierle was transported to the hospital in Scotland by ambulance for minor injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt.
Also on Sunday, in rural Tripp County, one juvenile was injured in a single-vehicle accident. Highway Patrol Sgt. John Koenig said a 17-year-old male, whose name he declined to provide because the driver is a juvenile, was driving north on 318th Avenue, approaching Highway 18 about 4 miles east of Winner around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Koenig said the driver lost control of his vehicle, a 2001 Ford F150, left the roadway and vaulted over a driveway approach for 44 feet. The pickup rolled a one-half turn, coming to rest on its top and struck a tree, Koenig said. Winner ambulance transported the driver to the hospital in Winner with minor injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Tripp County Sheriff's Office assisted, along with Winner Fire Department. Trooper Dave Baker was investigating officer.
