John M. Walz dies in fatal Lead crash
Fatal Lead crash death of John M. Walz
After a fatal collision near the town of Lead, the South Dakota Highway Patrol announced that the motorcyclist who lost their life was identified as 42-year-old John M. Walz from Lennox.
The incident transpired on Saturday, June 21, along U.S. Highway 385, about one mile south of Lead at mile marker 121. Initial findings from the probe indicate that Walz was operating a 2003 Victory Vegas motorcycle while moving north and failed to handle a curve in the road. As a consequence, he was thrown from the motorcycle.
He was transported by air ambulance to a regional hospital with critical injuries and later passed away due to those wounds on Wednesday, June 25. Officials highlighted that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
The case remains under scrutiny by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Separately, on Friday morning around 7:50 a.m., the Spearfish Police Department addressed a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Avenue and Ryan Road in Spearfish.
Reports from observers state that a 2005 Dodge Caravan minivan was proceeding south on North Avenue before turning east onto Ryan Road and veering into the path of a northbound 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor motorcycle. The motorcycle impacted the minivan’s side.
The operator of the motorcycle, a 51-year-old man from Spearfish, was donning a protective helmet and suffered injuries, being taken to Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. The minivan’s driver, 35-year-old Andrew Weishaar of Belle Fourche, was unharmed but was later arrested for operating under the influence.
The incident is still being looked into by the Spearfish Police, with assistance from Spearfish Emergency Ambulance, Fire Department, Public Works, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
