'Phantom' vehicles and animals are among the things Janklow says has caused his crashes.

| Saturday, August 23, 2003

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SIOUX FALLS (AP) - After a fatal crash on Saturday near Trent, Rep. Bill Janklow told a highway patrol officer he had swerved to avoid a vehicle in his lane, an accident report shows.

According to the report Janklow, "stated there was a vehicle in his lane of traffic and he had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid the vehicle."

Police have not previously indicated there were any other vehicles involved in the crash that killed Randy E. Scott, and none is listed on the accident report released Wednesday.

Moody County State's Attorney Bill Ellingson has said that both drivers were in their proper lanes at the time of the crash.

Accident records show Janklow has reported swerving to miss other vehicles or animals in past accidents.

In 1993, the former governor was involved in three accidents after which he told officers he had seen another vehicle and was trying to avoid hitting it when a collision occurred, reports show.

n On Nov. 24, 1993, Janklow's vehicle collided with a Sioux Falls city bus. He told law enforcement officers he had pulled forward "to avoid being struck by a phantom vehicle that was coming in his direction and appeared to be out of control," according to the report.

The report went on to say the "unidentified phantom vehicle" then continued south on the wrong side of the street, failing to stop.

n On Dec. 27, 1993, the former governor was in another accident in Sioux Falls. His vehicle collided with one driven by Clark Fairchild. Janklow said he was trying to avoid being struck by a blue Bronco that had entered the turning lane and appeared ready to hit his car. Fairchild told police he didn't see a blue Bronco.

n On Jan. 23, 1993, Janklow said he drove into the left driving lane to avoid hitting a small animal as he traveled a county road near Sioux Falls. He collided with a vehicle driven by James Vander Karr, who was taken to the hospital for head cuts.

Russ Janklow has said his father was confused after Saturday's accident.

Russ Janklow said his father, who hurt his wrist and suffered an injury to his head, has told him differing versions of what cars were involved. When pressed, the elder Janklow said he wasn't sure what happened.

"He was talking about other vehicles being in the accident, and it made absolutely no sense. That's why I knew he didn't know what he was talking about," Russ Janklow said. "He couldn't explain the accident. My dad was making no sense whatsoever."