Fatal Dump Truck Crash On Interstate 229

state.sd.us, Jan 04, 2007

Danny E. Hayne, 43, of Brandon died around 11 p.m. last night.  Hayne was a passenger in a dump truck that crashed on Interstate 229 around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006.

The dump truck Hayne was riding in was pulling a trailer that had a skid loader on it. The truck was traveling north on I-229 when it slid out of control. Just south of 10th Street, the truck hit the interstate median and threw Hayne through the windshield.

Hayne became lodged under the truck.  The driver of the truck, Craig Fitchner, 22, of Sioux Falls, climbed out of the wrecked truck, drove the skid loader off the trailer and then used the skid loader to lift the truck off of Hayne.

Both Hayne and Fitchner were transported to the hospital. Fitchner had minor injuries.  Hayne died at the hospital. Neither was wearing a seatbelt.

Fitchner was ticketed for careless driving. He faces additional charges for not having a commercial driver's license and for not wearing a seatbelt. 

The South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.