FLANDREAU, SD — Four people were killed Monday evening in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 29 in Moody County, according to the Moody County Sheriff’s Office. Three of the people who died were students at Flandreau Public Schools.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday morning that deputies and other emergency crews responded to the injury accident along with Colman Fire Department, Flandreau Ambulance, Brookings EMS and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. School officials later adjusted the district schedule as the community began responding to the losses.
Sheriff's office confirms four deaths in the Interstate 29 crash
The Moody County Sheriff’s Office said the accident involved multiple vehicles and turned deadly Monday evening. Officials did not immediately release the identities of the people who died.
The crash drew a broad emergency response from agencies in the area, underscoring the seriousness of the collision on one of the region’s main travel corridors. The sheriff’s office shared the update Tuesday morning after confirming the fatalities.
In a statement, the agency expressed sympathy for everyone affected, including families, friends, teachers, school staff, first responders and others touched by the crash.
Three Flandreau Public Schools students were among those who died
Flandreau Public Schools confirmed that three of the victims were students in the district. The deaths sent shock through the school community and quickly changed the district’s plans for the day.
School officials scheduled a 10 a.m. late start on Tuesday so families could be notified first. Counseling staff and ministerial association members were made available to talk with students, teachers and staff.
The sheriff’s office said the delayed start was intended to give the district time to contact families and allow parents to speak with their children before classes resumed.
Emergency crews from across the region responded to the scene
Along with the Moody County Sheriff’s Office, crews from Colman, Flandreau and Brookings were involved in the response. The mix of fire, ambulance and highway patrol personnel reflected the scale of the emergency and the need for coordinated assistance at the crash scene.
Emergency responders were called to an injury accident, and the incident ended with four deaths. Officials have not publicly detailed the sequence of events that led to the collision.
The response also included the South Dakota Highway Patrol, which often assists with serious traffic crashes on interstate highways.
Flandreau schools cancel volleyball game as community grieves
The impact of the crash reached beyond the classroom. Flandreau Public Schools said Tuesday morning that it canceled its home volleyball game against Castlewood and would not reschedule it.
That decision came as students, staff and families dealt with the news of the deaths. The district’s late start and access to counselors were meant to give the community space to process what had happened.
For many residents, the crash became a shared loss affecting both the schools and the wider area. The district and sheriff’s office both pointed to the need for support in the days ahead.
What officials have said so far about the fatal crash
Authorities have confirmed the number of people killed and the involvement of multiple vehicles, but they have not yet released further details about the victims or the circumstances of the crash. The investigation appears to remain active as officials work through notifications and response efforts.
For now, the main confirmed facts are the location, the date, the number of deaths and the heavy impact on Flandreau Public Schools. Community support services were quickly put in place as the district and law enforcement began dealing with the aftermath.
The sheriff’s office said its thoughts were with all of those affected, a sentiment that reflected the scale of the tragedy and the reach of the loss across Moody County.