Brookings, SD (August 29, 2026) – A 19-year-old Brookings man died on Thursday morning in a four-vehicle collision on Interstate 29 in Brookings County. The accident happened around 5:56 a.m. on August 27, near mile marker 140, about seven miles north of Brookings.
According to preliminary information, a 38-year-old Toronto woman was driving a 2018 Subaru Forester southbound in the northbound lanes. The Subaru struck a northbound 2011 GMC Sierra, causing the GMC to rotate and hit a 2024 Ford F-350.
The Subaru stopped in the roadway, where a northbound 2020 Chevrolet Trax later struck it before coming to rest on the shoulder. The GMC driver sustained fatal injuries, while the Subaru driver was flown to a Sioux Falls hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The Ford driver, a 34-year-old Newark, Ohio, man, and his 21-year-old passenger from Clear Lake, Minnesota, were not hurt. The Chevrolet driver, a 25-year-old Brookings man, also escaped injury.
The circumstances surrounding the wreck remain under investigation, and all information released so far is preliminary. Our condolences go to the Brookings man’s family and loved ones.
What Makes Wrong-Way Highway Crashes Especially Dangerous?
Wrong-way driving can create a high risk of severe roadway injuries because vehicles travel toward opposing traffic. Drivers may have only seconds to recognize an approaching vehicle and take evasive action.
Highway speeds can increase the force involved when vehicles meet head-on. Seat belts provide important protection, and wearing one can reduce the risk of being thrown from a vehicle during a serious collision.
Roadway lighting, visibility, traffic signs, and driver alertness can also affect the likelihood of wrong-way travel. Alcohol, fatigue, distraction, and confusion about highway entrances or exits are among the factors that can contribute to drivers entering opposing lanes. When a wrong-way vehicle is reported, other motorists should slow down and move away from its path when it is safe to do so.
