https://www.blackhillsfox.com/2024/0...g-turns-fatal/


The Rapid City Police and Fire Departments were called to the 400 block of Philadelphia Street around 10:40 p.m. April 9 when an SUV crashed into an apartment building.

According to the initial crash investigation, the SUV was speeding on Haines Avenue, lost control, crossed into the northbound lanes, and crashed into the building.

Upon arrival, first responders found two men dead inside the SUV. These men have been identified as Andrew Smith, 24, and Zachary Vermuelen, 28, both of Rapid City. Another person was also inside the car and was taken to Monument Health with life-threatening injuries.

No one in the apartment building was injured, however, the building was evacuated. The impact of the crash caused a gas line to break, leading to a leak that reached dangerous and explosive levels.

The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash is ongoing, however, a Rapid City Police Department spokesperson says the SUV was not involved in a police chase at the time of the accident.

Rapid City Public Works Director Dale Tech says the investigation will help determine if additional safety measures should be implemented along that stretch of Haines Avenue.

?Our engineering team will review that and see if there?s a solution that may be implemented in the future to mitigate a crash such as that,? said Tech.