South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg (R) reported hitting a deer with his car Saturday night, but it turned out he had struck and killed a pedestrian.
Ravnsborg reported hitting a deer and a collision to the local county sheriff around 10:30 p.m., the South Dakota Department of Public Safety said.
The victim, Joseph Boever, 55, was discovered the next morning near the site of the crash on a rural road.
Gov. Kristi Noem (R) confirmed Ravnsborg’s involvement in the fatal crash during a news conference Sunday. She said the Department of Safety would report directly to her on its ongoing investigation.
“This is a tragic accident and the Office of the Attorney General extends our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Boever,” Tim Bormann, Ravnsborg’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “The Attorney General, and our office, are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation of this event and will continue to do so.”
The accident occurred on Ravnsborg’s way back home after attending a Republican fundraiser over a hundred miles away. Another even attendee, State Sen. Brock Greenfield (R) confirmed that Ravnsborg had not drunk alcohol at the event.
