Sisseton Man Arrested After Driving Truck Into Lake Poinsett

Handcuffs and the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office badge symbolize law enforcement efforts, featured in a broadcast by Northeast Radio SD.

Northeast Radio SD News – Lake Poinsett, SD - A 44-year-old Sisseton man is in custody following a Sunday afternoon incident where his vehicle ended up partially submerged in Lake Poinsett.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, deputies with the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a vehicle in the water near Stone Bridge on South Dakota Highway 28. Upon arriving at the scene on the north end of the lake, authorities discovered a 2024 GMC Sierra with its front end submerged.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the responding deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol from the driver, who displayed clear signs of intoxication. A Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) was administered, revealing a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .238, which is nearly three times the legal limit.

The investigation further revealed that the driver was already on parole for a prior felony DUI conviction. Following the administration of a search warrant for a blood draw, the man was arrested on the following charges:

·        Felony DUI 

·        Parole Violation 

The suspect was transported and booked into the Brookings County Detention Center. BES Towing assisted deputies at the scene to recover the submerged pickup truck.

The Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office stated that the incident remains under investigation.

As a reminder, all defendants are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution until proven guilty in a court of law.