By Caitlynn Peetz
The Daily Republic
MITCHELL, S.D. — A Salem and Spencer firefighter was killed in a crash Saturday east of Mitchell.
Tracy Morehead, who was a member of both departments, died after colliding with a vehicle on Interstate 90, an official confirmed Monday.
The crash occurred when a 2014 Dodge Durango hit six cows that had entered the roadway at approximately 8:05 p.m. in the westbound lane, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. The Durango, which contained four occupants, came to a stop in the passing lane and was later struck by a 2002 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Morehead.
Morehead died Saturday from “injuries sustained in an automobile accident,” according to his obituary. His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Kinzley Funeral Home in Salem.
And after Presho Fire Chief Donny Manger died at the scene of a fire last week on Oct. 14, it’s been a “tough week” across the state, Salem Fire Chief Nathan Olinger said. And the loss of Morehead hits hard.
“It’s a bad deal, it’s a sad deal,” Olinger said. “Firefighters across the state are one big family, and it’s like what happens to you what happens to all of us. How we honor them is to keep answering the call.”
Morehead had been a firefighter for roughly seven years, Olinger said.
Two of the Durango passengers were transported to a Mitchell hospital and a 10-year-old female was airlifted to Sioux Falls with life-threatening injuries. The 37-year-old male driver of the Durango sustained minor injuries and a 33-year-old passenger sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a Mitchell hospital.
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has not released the names of those involved in the crash, pending notification of family members and Marsy’s Law.
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