Two Drivers Hospitalized After Bruce-Area Accident Involving Semi and Bus
- Steve Jurrens
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Bruce, SD - A two-vehicle accident on Friday, October 17, near Bruce, South Dakota, resulted in two drivers being transported to Brookings Hospital for evaluation. Both individuals were later released.
The Brookings County Sheriff’s Office responded to the injury accident at approximately 10:56 a.m. at the intersection of 204th Street and 464th Avenue.
According to the Sheriff's Office investigation and witness statements, a 2017 Ford Transit vehicle, driven by Dennis Bedow, 78, of Brookings, was traveling north on 464th Avenue. After stopping at the stop sign, Bedow proceeded into the intersection to make a left turn onto 204th Street.
A 2025 Kenworth T880 semi-truck with an attached tanker, driven by Albertus Schelhaas, 61, of Edgerton, Minnesota, was westbound on 204th Street. Schelhaas saw the bus stop and then enter the intersection.
Schelhaas, who was hauling a tanker with approximately 7,500 gallons of milk, swerved right to avoid the transit vehicle but made contact with the bus's passenger side. The semi then entered the north ditch and rolled onto its side. Schelhaas was able to exit the cab through the damaged roof. He was transported to Brookings Hospital with complaints of leg and hip pain. Bedow was also transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Bedow was issued a citation for Failure to Yield after stopping before entering roadway.
Environmental and Investigation Details
Due to the accident, most of the milk was lost from the tanker and accumulated in a nearby bean field. Brookings County Emergency Management monitored the spill. The Department of Natural Resources assessed the situation and determined the spill was not a threat to the area, and no recovery was ordered.
The incident drew responses from the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office, Bruce Fire Department, Brookings Ambulance, and Brookings County Emergency Management.
The Brookings County Sheriff’s Office is currently waiting for damage estimates from both companies involved and the landowner. The incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office at 605-696-8300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 605-692-7867 (STOP) or www.brookingsareacrimestoppers.com.
