BERESFORD - A 16 year-old from Centerville died Friday in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 46, three miles west of Beresford.
Peter Auch, 16, of Centerville, was driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am eastbound on Highway 46 near Beresford. Diane Robertson, 54, of Wagner, was driving a 2012 Buick Enclave westbound on Highway 46. A third vehicle, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Dillon Buchanan, 18, of Irene, was traveling westbound behind Robertson’s Enclave. Buchanan’s passenger was Jacob Halldorson, 18, of Madison, Minn.
Buchanan attempted to pass Robertson and as he moved into the eastbound lane, Auch’s Grand Am was occupying the lane. Buchanan swerved left and struck a guardrail cable. The passenger side of his vehicle struck the center of the passenger’s side of Auch’s vehicle in a head-on type manner.
The result of the collision spun Auch’s vehicle into the path of Robertson’s vehicle, which struck Auch’s driver’s side door.
Auch was air-lifted to Avera McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls. He was wearing a seat belt during the crash, but suffered fatal injuries. Robertson was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries during the crash. Buchanan and Halldorson were not wearing seat belts. Buchanan was treated and released from the hospital. Halldorson suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.
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The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating. Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Beresford Police Department, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Beresford Fire Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Yankton County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
- Source: South Dakota Department of Public Safety
