PICKSTOWN, S.D. – A Lake Andes woman has been identified as the person who died late Thursday night in a two-vehicle crash east of Pickstown. Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2012 Chrysler Town & County minivan was westbound on South Dakota Highway 46 just after 10:30 PM when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound 2021 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup.
Sandra Wade, the 76-year-old driver of the minivan, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was wearing a seatbelt.
All three male occupants of the pickup were injured. Gage Matzen of Tea, the 24-year-old driver, sustained serious non-life threatening injuries. He was transported to the Wagner hospital and later airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital. The two passengers, 18-year old Cody Noe of Colton and 19-year old Hunter Anderson of Renner, suffered minor injuries. Matzen was wearing a seatbelt and seatbelt use by the passengers is under investigation.
South Dakota’s Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.