South Dakota
The heroes who fought for this country are finally home
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JIJ5DMDRKNCCJKDNGENMCETLOM.jpg "The heroes who fought for this country are finally home")
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – After a nine-month deployment to the Middle East, members of the South Dakota National Guard are back home. More than 80 soldiers were welcomed back to the Black Hill by their families and friends during the 109th Regional Support Group Welcome Home Ceremony.
During the event, Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Kristi Noem, and Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun acknowledged and welcomed the troops who served our country in Iraq.
“They do not do this 365 days a year. They are welders, accountants, and teachers. In some cases, they’re retired, but they continue to serve their country every single month. And when their country truly needs them, they go on active duty for 10 months, serving their country away from their families,” said Johnson.
We spoke with a soldier about his experience, He said it was hot from the moment he arrived until he returned. However, he expressed that he valued the experience of serving his country and couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.
“It was actually a lot of fun and created many good memories. I did things over there that I wouldn’t have had the chance to do outside of the military or even staying back home stateside. Interacting with all of the coalition forces, including the Italians, the Norwegians, and the Germans, was truly enjoyable,” said a South Dakota National Guard soldier.
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South Dakota
The share of fatal crashes involving teen drivers is higher in South Dakota than most other states
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The share of fatal crashes involving a teen driver is higher in South Dakota than in almost any other state.
The state has the ninth-highest percentage of deadly crashes involving a teen driver at 16.4%, according to a recent analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data by Bumper, a vehicle history report website.
The analysis found that, nationwide, the number of people who died in crashes involving teen drivers has increased by 25% since 2013. In 2023, a total of 5,588 people died in crashes involving a teen driver, including passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and other drivers.
It also determined that while teen drivers account for only 5.1% of all licensed drivers in the country, they represent 8.9% of drivers in fatal crashes.
South Dakota had a total of 146 traffic crash fatalities in 2024, up from 140 in 2023 and 137 in 2022, according to the state Department of Public Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 39,345 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024, about a 4% decrease from 2023.
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What states had the highest teen involvement in fatal crashes?
These states had the highest percentage of crash deaths involving a teen driver.
- Kansas, 18.9%
- Utah, 17.9%
- Idaho, 17.5%
- Montana, 17.3%
- Wisconsin, 17%
- Missouri, 16.9%
- Indiana, 16.8%
- Colorado, 16.5%
- South Dakota, 16.4%
- New Mexico, 15.8%
What states had the lowest teen involvement in fatal crashes?
These states had the lowest percentage of crash deaths involving a teen driver.
- District of Columbia, 4.5%
- New Hampshire, 6.2%
- Hawaii, 6.5%
- Wyoming, 8.3%
- North Dakota, 8.5%
- Vermont, 8.7%
- Connecticut, 10.10%
- Oregon, 10.4%
- Maine, 10.4%
- Maryland, 10.5%
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