News

Names Released in Aurora County Fatal Crash

Names Released in Aurora County Fatal Crash

Photo: WNAX


The names of two people who died Saturday evening in a two-vehicle crash east of Plankinton have been released.

Preliminary crash information indicates a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near mile marker 311 when it collided head-on with a westbound 2024 Kenworth semi-tractor trailer combination.

Owen Robert Gjerdahl, 17, of Mitchell, S.D. was the driver of the Crown Victoria. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Jeffrey Duane McGhee Jr., 29, of Mt. Vernon, S.D., was a passenger in the Crown Victoria. He also was not wearing a seatbelt. Both Gjerdahl and McGhee were pronounced dead at the scene. Francisco Parra-Navarro, 63, of Sioux Falls was the driver of the semi-truck. Parra-Navarro was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

South Dakota’s Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.

Recent Headlines

3 days ago in Local

WHAT DOES MARIJUANA RECLASSIFICATION MEAN FOR SOUTH DAKOTA?

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – President Trump’s executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a…

3 days ago in Local

GOVERNOR RHODEN ANNOUNCES $200,000 GRANT SUPPORTING KEEP FARMERS FARMING PROGRAM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – On Monday, Governor Rhoden announced a $200,000 grant from the Future Fund for…

3 days ago in Local

ICE’S YEAR IN SOUTH DAKOTA, FROM SMALL TOWNS TO OPERATION: PRAIRIE THUNDER

SOUTH DAKOTA (Molly Wetsch / South Dakota News Watch) – Five months after Operation: Prairie Thunder officially began, the South Dakota…

1 week ago in Local

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ECONOMIST SAYS FARM ECONOMY HAS HELD BACK SALES TAX REVENUES

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Joshua Haiar / South Dakota Searchlight) – South Dakota’s State Economist Derek Johnson told the state Banking…

1 week ago in Local

STATE SPENDS $43,000 IN TROOPER OVERTIME FOR OPERATION PRAIRIE THUNDER

PIERRE, S.D. (John Hult / South Dakota Searchlight) – The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says a saturation patrol…