For many, road to Sturgis rally runs through Nebraska

DWI and drug arrests are down on the opening day of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally but the number of citations and warnings issued are dopwn from the same period a year ago.

There were, however, several serious injury accidents, 22 drunken driving arrests and 25 drug arrests. Villareal suffering serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Last year’s rally drew a record crowd of more than 700,000.

Public information officer Tony Mangan says that since Saturday morning, there have been zero fatalities compared to six during the same time period one year earlier. At this time previous year, there had been 29 injury accidents, 13 non-injury accidents, and six fatal accidents.

Officials also gave out 209 citations and 981 warnings, which by now they had given out 376 and 1,257, respectively. Law enforcement doesnt expect as many this rally, more like a typical year, but that still means tens of thousands of extra vehicles and motorcyles in the state. It was still ahead of previous year when 636 permits were given.

Motorcyclists are pouring into the Black Hills this week for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which begins Monday.

Other big-name concerts this week include Ted Nugent and Cheap Trick on Tuesday, Aug. 9, Loverboy on Wednesday, Aug. 10, Jackyl and Miranda Lambert on Thursday, Aug. 11, Buckcherry on Friday, Aug, 12 and Weird Al Yankovic on Saturday, Aug. 13.