Six injured in head-on crash near Hartford

HARTFORD — Six people were injured Thursday evening in a head-on crash in a construction zone along Interstate 90.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, first responders in Minnehaha County were called to mile mark 390 of Interstate 90, roughly 4 miles east of Hartford, for a report of a two-vehicle collision in a construction zone.

A preliminary investigation conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol indicates that a 14-year-old girl was driving a 2004 Jeep Cherokee eastbound across a bridge when she lost control of the vehicle, crossed over the center line and crashed into a westbound pickup.

The 14-year-old driver of the Jeep suffered life-threatening injuries, while a 39-year-old female passenger suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Both were wearing seat belts and were taken to a Sioux Falls hospital.

The 50-year-old driver of the pickup and two 49-year-old female passengers all suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries, and another 52-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries. All four were wearing their seat belts and were taken to a hospital, as well.

Names of the six involved were not released by authorities, though the South Dakota Highway Patrol confirmed that charges are pending against the 14-year-old driver.

A section of Interstate 90 was closed to traffic in both direction for approximately three-and-a-half hours while law enforcement investigated the scene.