Executive Summary
- Eliseo Mendez Gomez of Summit, SD, died in a single-vehicle crash near Ortley.
- Investigators report the driver overcorrected after entering a ditch, causing the vehicle to roll.
- Authorities confirmed the victim was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected.
GRANT COUNTY, S.D. – A Summit, South Dakota, man was pronounced dead at the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Saturday afternoon, according to officials from the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Authorities identified the victim as Eliseo Mendez Gomez. He was operating a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix southbound on 452nd Avenue near 147th Street, approximately six miles southeast of Ortley. Preliminary crash information released by the Department of Public Safety indicates that Gomez lost control of the vehicle, which partially entered the east ditch.
Investigators stated that the driver appeared to have overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll before coming to a complete stop in the west ditch. The official report noted that Gomez was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident and was ejected from the vehicle.
Traffic Safety Context
The South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate the specific circumstances leading to the loss of vehicle control. This incident underscores the persistent danger of rural rollover accidents, where the absence of seat belt usage significantly increases the probability of ejection and fatal injuries.
