Rapid City police are currently investigating a fatal crash as a case of vehicular homicide after the victim succumbed to her injuries on September 22nd.
At around 1:25 a.m. on September 16th, police were dispatched to 3555 Sheridan Lake Road for a single vehicle crash. The reporting party stated they had witnessed a southbound passenger vehicle leave the roadway and strike a tree near the address.
On arrival, police located the vehicle which had subsequently impacted the side of the nearby tennis facility. A male was observed lying on the ground next to the driver’s side of the vehicle. He was identified as 22-year-old Terrance Richard of Box Elder, and police noted the strong smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious, non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash. Officers also located several open alcohol containers inside the vehicle.
While officers were searching the area around the vehicle, they located a juvenile female who had been ejected during the crash. Medical personnel on scene began life-saving measures on the female and she was transported to the hospital for the treatment of serious, life-threatening injuries. The female succumbed to her injuries on September 22nd.
She is identified as 16-year-old Alexis Black Elk of Rapid City.
Due to his need for medical care, Richard was issued a PR Bond for the Vehicular Battery and Driving without a Valid License after the crash. The Pennington County States Attorney’s Office has since been updated for the purposes of considering Vehicular Homicide charges in the prosecution of the incident. Richard is scheduled to appear in court on October 20th.
* The charges are merely accusations and the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Any additional details regarding this case can be obtained from the Pennington County State’s Attorney and/or court records as appropriate.