Aiden Van Balen dies in fatal Pierre car crash

Aiden Van Balen dies in fatal Pierre car crash

Fatal Pierre car crash death of Aiden Van Balen – Obituary

Aiden Van Balen, a 16-year-old from Pierre, South Dakota, lost his life early Wednesday morning in a multi-vehicle collision on US Highway 83, just one mile south of Agar.

According to preliminary reports, Van Balen was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 northbound when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lanes. A Peterbilt semi truck, driven by Philip M. Rush, attempted to avoid the Dodge by moving onto the shoulder but was struck on the rear trailer tires. This impact caused the Dodge to spin back into the southbound lane.

A second semi truck, operated by Jason Neely, also traveling southbound, veered into the west ditch but collided with the Dodge, which ended up stopped in the center of the road.

Van Balen was pronounced dead at the crash scene, while both semi-truck drivers escaped without injuries. The South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.