Trooper Kristoff DeKramer of the South Dakota Highway Patrol responded on Dec. 1 to a crash in northwestern Minnehaha County that involved a Madison driver.
The single-car accident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on SD-19 south of the Buffalo Trading Post 9 miles north of Humboldt.
The Highway Patrol reported the Austin Thames, 18, the driver of the northbound Chevrolet pickup fell asleep at the wheel causing the vehicle to drift across the southbound lane and hit a delineator post.
The initial collision woke a passenger in the vehicle and he woke up the driver.
The driver woke up and corrected towards the right causing the vehicle to travel across both traffic lanes and enter the east ditch. Before stopping, the pickup flipped twice end-to-end.
The four occupants were not wearing seatbelts. The passengers -- Thames, a minor-aged male and two 17-year-old females -- were transported to a Sanford Health hospital in Sioux Falls for medical attention.
Three occupants had serious but non-life-threatening injuries. One person was released from the hospital.
The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Department, Colton Fire and Rescue, and ambulances from Dell Rapids and Humboldt.
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