MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — An Indianola, Iowa, man has pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in connection with a July 4 UTV crash in Hughes County that killed a 9-year-old girl.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that Zachary Berger, 38, entered the plea Thursday in Hughes County Circuit Court.
Berger also admitted to an amended habitual offender information, which increases his maximum possible sentence to 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 31.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol, Hughes County Sheriff’s Office and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks investigated the crash. The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.