Stats point to better biker behavior

By Bill Cissell, Journal Staff Writer | Wednesday, August 11, 2004

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STURGIS - This year's Sturgis motorcycle rally crowd may be bigger than last year's, but indications are that it's better- behaved.

Traffic and visits to Mount Rushmore are higher compared to this point during last year's rally, but authorities reported fewer drug arrests in the northern Black Hills as of Tuesday.

Mike Pflaum, chief ranger at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, said Tuesday that rally-related visitation is on pace to set an all-time record.

Friday through Tuesday, the number of motorcycles at Rushmore was up more than 4 percent over last year. Pflaum projected a total of 48,820 motorcycles through Tuesday, compared to 46,777 in the same period last year — which was the biggest rally week ever at Rushmore.

Pflaum estimated that 48,820 bikes represent about 71,000 visitors.

"We've seen enough evidence to lead us to believe this is a very big year," he said.

Dan Staton, region traffic engineer for the South Dakota Department of Transportation, said early numbers from traffic counters in certain locations indicated the rally crowd was bigger but not significantly.

He didn't name the counter locations and said the department would have more accurate figures later in the week.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, state Highway Patrol troopers had arrested 11 people for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance in Meade and Lawrence counties, according to a report from patrol Lt. Randy Hartley. In the same reporting period during last year's rally, 39 such arrests were made. Arrests for felony possession also were down, with only two arrests this year compared to 10 last year at the same time.

In fact, numbers are down in most categories from a year ago. Other statistics, according to Hartley's report, include 116 citations and 198 warnings issued this year compared to 177 citations and 314 warnings last year.

Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin said his figures also reflect a decrease in some categories. According to his written report, 73 traffic warnings have been issued in the county, compared to 108 last year. The number of people booked into the jail is down this year, too — 144 this year compared to 177 last year.

However, five people have been arrested for drug possession compared to eight last year. And Merwin's report indicated an increase in nonfatal accidents, with 24 injury accidents this year compared to 21 last year.

There have been 11 noninjury accidents reported this year, compared to six last year.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, Meade County had not reported any fatal accidents. During the same reporting period last year, six people died.

But four motorcycle riders were killed in three separate accidents Sunday and Monday in Lawrence County, and authorities have released their names.

Seth McClendon, 26, Chino Hills, Calif., died after losing control of his bike and hitting a guard rail at 2:25 a.m. Sunday on Christensen Drive in Spearfish.

John M. Reynolds, 60, Charlton, Mass., and Shannon P. Dennis, 33, Neenah, Wis., died after their bikes collided in Boulder Canyon on Monday. The accident happened at 4:44 p.m. after Reynolds' 2002 Iron Horse crossed the center line and struck Dennis' 2004 Harley-Davidson. Neither rider was wearing a helmet.

Later Monday, at almost the same location in Boulder Canyon, John Charles Jones, 59, of Rigby, Idaho, died after his 2004 Harley-Davidson crossed the center line and hit a 2003 Harley-Davidson driven by Jason Dean Bender, 32, Britton. Bender was taken to Sturgis Community Health Care Center and then transferred to Rapid City Regional Hospital with arm, face, pelvic and hip injuries.

At Tuesday's media conference in Sturgis, authorities didn't have any information about further fatalities for the second day of the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, which officially started Monday.

Sturgis Police Chief Jim Bush issued a report saying accidents and arrests in the city are down or about the same compared to last year. Bush's report noted that through 6 a.m. Tuesday, there had been 17 injury and noninjury accidents, 40 people arrested for misdemeanor drug or paraphernalia possession, six for felony drug possession, 11 people charged with drunken driving and 97 parking tickets issued. Bush's report didn't have last year's figures.

Staff writer Bill Harlan contributed to this report.

Contact Bill Cissell at 394-8412 or bill.cissell@rapidcityjournal.com