2-Vehicle Crash West of Mina Leaves 3 People Dead

MINA, S.D. (AP) — Three people are dead following a two-vehicle crash west of Mina that forced the closure of U.S. Highway 12 for more than 2 hours.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, when a pickup truck traveling west on Highway 12 was struck by a car that was eastbound and crossed the center line.

Authorities say the pickup's driver, 59-year-old Michael Schlosser, and the car's two occupants, 42-year-old Kelly Pierce and 32-year-old Christopher McCoy, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Aberdeen American News reports Schlosser, of Aberdeen, was an emergency room doctor at Avera St. Luke's Hospital.

Authorities say Pierce, of Mellete, was driving the car that struck the pickup. They say Schlosser and McCoy, of Ipswich, were wearing seatbelts.

The Highway Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.

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