Freeman man named as victim in Sunday fatal crash

By Erik Kaufman

September 02, 2020 at 2:22 PM

HURLEY — A Freeman man has been identified as the person killed in a Sunday night two-vehicle crash north of Hurley.

According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, a 2011 Chrysler Town and Country was westbound on 280th Avenue and failed to stop at the stop sign located at the intersection of State Highway 19 and 280th Avenue. The vehicle collided with a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country that was southbound on Highway 19.

Dennis Schrock, the 71-year-old driver of the 2011 Chrysler Town and Country, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt.

The crash took place at approximately 7:34 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of State Highway 19 and 280th Avenue, about 3 miles north of Hurley.

Michelle Sorlien, of Menno, was the 43-year-old passenger in the 2002 Chrysler Town and Country vehicle. She suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to a Sioux Falls hospital. Dennis White, 47, of Irene, was the driver of that vehicle. He sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to a Sioux Falls hospital.

All those involved were wearing seat belts.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

By Erik Kaufman

Erik Kaufman joined the Mitchell Republic in July of 2019 as an education and features reporter. He grew up in Freeman, S.D., graduating from Freeman High School. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1999 with a major in English and a minor in computer science. He can be reached at ekaufman@mitchellrepublic.com.