Victims: Hot Springs girl, 6, Belle Fourche men die in crashes.
Three people, including a 6-year-old girl, died in two Black Hills-area traffic accidents Monday.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol said Faralyn Phelps, 6, of Hot Springs died when the 2005 Dodge Neon she was riding in rolled about 2 miles south of Hot Springs on S.D. Highway 71.
The Highway Patrol said two Belle Fourche men - Raymond V. Subiate, 36, and John J. "J.J." Hunt, 38 - died when Subiate lost control of his 2000 Ford Expedition and it rolled several times before tumbling off the Camp Crook Road 2 miles north of U.S. Highway 85.
In the Hot Springs accident, passenger Adrian Phelps, also 6, suffered life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition at Rapid City Regional Hospital at news deadline Tuesday night.
A preliminary investigation of the crash scene indicated the children were not properly restrained in the vehicle. Both were ejected from the vehicle.
The vehicle was being driven by Clinton Phelps, 28, of Hot Springs who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The report indicates Phelps lost control of the vehicle and rolled it about 9:20 p.m. Monday
According to the news release, alcohol was a factor in the crash, but charges have not yet been filed.
The Fall River County Sheriff's Office is helping with the investigation of the crash.
In the Butte County accident, investigators said Hunt, the passenger, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. Subiate was wearing a seat belt but also died of injuries suffered during the rollover.
Officers had not determined whether alcohol or speed were factors in the crash, reported at 5:30 p.m.
The county sheriff's office, coroner, Belle Fourche Fire Rescue and the Belle Fourche-Butte County ambulance assisted at the scene.
Funeral arrangements for Hunt were pending at the Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.
Posted in Local on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:00 pm Updated: 9:27 pm.
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