Hail storm damages cars, bikes east of Sturgis
By Steve Miller, Journal staff
STURGIS -- A fierce hail storm blasted the Sturgis area late Friday
afternoon, injuring at least two people, smashing windows in hundreds of
cars and several homes and damaging at least scores of motorcycles, mostly
east of town.
At the Buffalo Chip Campground east of Sturgis, a hail stone bigger than a
baseball ripped through a man's tent and hit him in the head, knocking him
unconscious, according to Chip owner Rod Woodruff. The man was taken to a
hospital for treatment.
In Sturgis, a man took shelter in a plywood shelter when the storm hit, but
the wind tipped it over and knocked him to the cement. He, too, was taken to
an area hospital, according to Kathie Grant, Meade County Emergency
Management director. Grant did not know the exact nature of his injuries.
A National Weather Service worker reported hail nearly 3 inches in diameter
fell in the area during the storm. Wind reports ranged from 60 mph to 70
mph, extending to Hereford in Meade County and Philip and Midland in Haakon
County.
Grant said the hail damaged windows and windshields of several vehicles on
Interstate 90 east of Sturgis. Some vehicles were damaged so badly they had
to be towed, she said.
Residents of Vanocker Canyon reported losing windows in their homes and
vehicles, Grant said.
State Public Safety Department spokeswoman Brooke Bohnenkamp said the heavy
band of hail east of Sturgis slowed and backed up traffic on Interstate 90.
"They had a couple of minor injury crashes. Traffic is getting back to
normal," she said in an e-mail statement. She said a couple Highway Patrol
vehicles also sustained damage.
At the Buffalo Chip, the hail broke windows and mirrors or otherwise damaged
about 2,000 cars, Woodruff said. The hail also broke out windows in some of
the Chip's buildings.
To the west, at the Monkey Rock rally venue, the storm hit about 5:30 p.m.,
sending hundreds of bikers and vendors scurrying inside the big white fabric
building near the Kick Start Travel Center. The hail storm abated after
about 15 to 20 minutes, and bikers ventured outside to find that the hail
had broken lights and dented many of the motorcycles parked outside.
The hail shattered one car's back window.
In town, there didn't appear to be major damage from the storm, according to
Police Chief Jim Bush, although he said one of his officers who lives east
of town reported that the hail smashed a skylight and windows in his house.
No accidents related to the storm were reported, according to Bush and Sgt.
Craig Johnson of the Meade County Sheriff's Office.
Grant said the storm appeared initially to be a narrow system, but it
exploded when it got to Sturgis, she said.
"We blew the sirens," she said.
Grant said the 2009 rally has been plagued by more storms than usual, at
least in recent years. "Frankly, I'm sick of it," she said.
At the Buffalo Chip about 7:30 p.m., Woodruff said the sky was clearing, and
the crowd was gathering for Friday night's Red and Buckcherry concerts.
"The show must go on," Woodruff said.
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