RAPID CITY, SD — RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Highway Patrol has identified the five individuals who tragically lost their lives in a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday evening, October 1, 2025, approximately three miles east of Scenic, South Dakota. The victims have been identified as 24-year-old Chad Lee Doyle Jr. of Wanblee, 23-year-old Byron Joey Bear Killer of Allen, 24-year-old Twila Whitney Hard Heart of Rapid City, 33-year-old Danielle Lee Long Soldier of Wanblee, and a 10-year-old girl whose name has not been released.
According to the South Dakota Highway Patrol, preliminary crash information indicates that Chad Lee Doyle Jr. was driving a 2004 Honda Pilot eastbound on SD Highway 44 near mile marker 90 when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. The vehicle left the roadway, entered the north ditch, and struck an embankment before becoming engulfed in flames.
All five occupants of the vehicle were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency crews from multiple agencies, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Scenic Volunteer Fire Department, and South Dakota Highway Patrol, responded to the scene but were unable to save any of the victims due to the severity of the crash and the resulting fire.
Authorities say the investigation into the cause of the crash remains active. Troopers are working to determine whether speed, alcohol, or road conditions may have been contributing factors. The vehicle will undergo a detailed mechanical inspection, and toxicology reports are pending.
The heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves through several South Dakota communities, including Wanblee, Allen, and Rapid City, where the victims had deep family and community ties. Friends and relatives have been sharing messages of grief and remembrance across social media, describing the victims as kind, loving, and full of life.
“They were more than friends — they were family to everyone who knew them,” one relative shared in a post. “It’s hard to believe they’re gone. Our hearts are shattered.”
Local community members are organizing memorial gatherings and candlelight vigils to honor the five lives lost, offering prayers and support for the families enduring unimaginable grief.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to lead the investigation, assisted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and other local emergency responders.
This devastating crash stands as a solemn reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike and the importance of driving carefully on rural highways, especially at night and on curving roads.
In loving memory:
Chad Lee Doyle Jr. (24) – Wanblee, SD
Byron Joey Bear Killer (23) – Allen, SD
Twila Whitney Hard Heart (24) – Rapid City, SD
Danielle Lee Long Soldier (33) – Wanblee, SD
Unnamed 10-year-old girl – Forever remembered
