By Jolene Fairly
A 41-year-old Valley Springs man was killed and his 9-year-old daughter injured Wednesday, May 22, in a motorcycle accident east of Valley Springs, SD, in Rock County.
Ronald Matthaei was driving westbound toward Valley Springs when he dropped onto the gravel shoulder of County Road 4 and lost control of his motorcycle, according to Rock County Deputy Sheriff Kurt Kester.
He wasn’t wearing a helmet and was thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle landed in the ditch and his daughter was pinned underneath it. She was wearing a helmet.
A wind gust could have contributed to the accident, according to Kester.
A motorist who witnessed the accident called 911 from a nearby farm. Rescuers were notified at 8:52 p.m.
The girl was conscious when she was airlifted to Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.