YANKTON, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Five people were killed in a two-car crash early July 4th morning east of Yankton. One other person was seriously injured.
Authorities say the two cars hit head-on, as one car was being followed by police. The Yankton Assistant Fire Chief says it's the worst crash he's seen in some 40 years.
State Highway Patrol Spokesman Tony Mangan says a Yankton city police officer was attempting to stop a 1996 Acura Integra which was traveling east on South Dakota Highway 50. The Integra shut off its headlights and crossed onto the westbound lanes where it collided with a westbound 2010 Nissan Sentra
Both occupants of the Acura Integra were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither were wearing seatbelts. Three of the four occupants of the Nissan Sentra also died in the crash, including a ten-year-old girl. The fourth occupant, a 12-year-old girl, was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital.
Mangan tells Kelo.com News that the investigation is underway, but it will be complicated by the fact that only one person survived the crash.