Head-On Collision on Highway 20 Sends Two to Hospital; Juvenile Cited

Steve Jurrens
Mar 1
2 min read

Two cars collide head-on on snowy Highway 20. Red car and tan SUV are damaged. Ambulance and fire truck on scene. Text: "Head-On Collision..." — Head-on collision on Highway 20 in Watertown, South Dakota, involves two vehicles. Emergency responders on scene as two individuals are hospitalized; juvenile cited for the incident.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Local authorities are investigating a serious head-on collision that occurred Sunday afternoon on U.S. Highway 20, resulting in serious injuries and a citation for a teenage driver.

At approximately 3:08 p.m. on March 1, 2026, the Watertown Police Department and Watertown Fire Rescue were dispatched to the scene near the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and 451st Avenue.

According to police reports, the accident involved two vehicles: a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 14-year-old male from Watertown and a 2018 Toyota Camry driven by a 73-year-old male, also from Watertown.

The investigation determined that the 14-year-old was traveling westbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck the eastbound Toyota Camry head-on.

Watertown Fire Rescue arrived at the scene with an engine and two ambulances to provide medical assistance.

The 14-year-old driver was treated for minor injuries on-site and released to his parents. The 73-year-old driver of the Toyota sustained multiple non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Meanwhile, a 70-year-old female passenger in the Toyota suffered life-threatening injuries and was also rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

Investigation and Citations

The juvenile driver has been cited for Careless Driving (SDCL 32-24-8). Officials stated that drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the incident.

Both vehicles involved sustained heavy front-end damage, were declared total losses, and had to be towed from the highway.

The Watertown Police Department expressed gratitude to the witnesses who stayed at the scene to assist the victims and contact emergency services.

Two cars, a red sedan and a tan SUV, have collided on a snowy road. Debris is scattered. Emergency vehicles are present in the background. — A head-on collision between two vehicles on a snowy road, with emergency responders on the scene.