2 in Critical Condition from Accident on Highway 34

Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Lake County Coroner has confirmed there has been one fatality from a car bus accident that occurred shortly before 10 am Wednesday on Highway 34 near Wentworth. Lance Parliament, a Dakota State University student, was killed when the Pontiac Grand AM he was driving crossed the center line and struck an east bound tour bus.

Multiple ambulances, including several air ambulances from from around the area, took 51 injured victims from the bus to hospitals in Sioux Falls and Madison. Two hospitals in Sioux Falls report they are treating 16 people hurt in the crash. At least two are in critical condition and five are reported in serious condition.

A spokesman for Avera McKennan Hospital says more patients may be transferred from Madison to Sioux Falls.

Alan Welsh of the South Dakota Highway Patrol said the bus was carrying 55 passengers from Mitchell, Artesian, Fedora, Howard, Madison and at the junction of Highways 34 and 37, to Royal River Casino in Flandreau.

Any one with family members on the bus is asked to call the Madison Community Hospital at 605-256-6551 and ask for the family line.