On October 19, 2024, in South Dakota, 19-year-old Bailey Feistner was driving north in her Ford F-150 and ran a stop sign at an intersection with Highway 46, about 12 miles west of Beresford. 45-year-old Tracey Mortenson was driving her Ford Explorer east on Highway 46 and collided with the F-150 at the intersection. Mortenson was killed; Feistner was seriously injured but survived.
In 2023, in South Dakota, there were 18,796 total reported crashes. 128 of these crashes were fatal, involving 140 fatalities. These fatalities included 95 drivers, 30 passengers, and 15 pedestrians. 34 (26%) of the 128 fatal crashes were alcohol related. 17.2% of the drivers involved in these fatal crashes had consumed alcohol. Of the drivers under 25 years of age who were involved in the reported crashes, 42.6% had been speeding, and 29.0% had consumed alcohol.
Prepare for your learner’s instruction permit knowledge test AND stay safe and legal with our special free South Dakota Fines and Limits permit practice test. It’s up to date as of December 2025. This test isn’t about the rules of the road, but instead about the legal consequences of violating those rules, especially the possible loss of driving privileges. The practice test is up to date as of December 2025 and is based on South Dakota’s official driver’s manual (South Dakota DMV Handbook (SD Driver's Manual) 2025) and the South Dakota Codified Laws.