South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) stated on Sunday evening that Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg had been involved in a fatal collision the night before.
Well, this stinks.
Talking Points Memo
Argus Leader
Dickinson Press
- Ravnsborg was at a GOP function at Rooster’s Bar in Redfield, S.D. until 8:30 Saturday
- Ravnsborg traveled alone on Highway 14 from Redfield to Pierre (117 miles!)
- An accident occurred west of Highmore at 10:30 PM
- Ravnsborg called the Hyde County sheriff saying he (wait for it ...) hit a deer
- Ravnsborg was uninjured
- The dead body of Joe Boever (55 years old) was discovered only Sunday morning
- Mr. Boever had been walking down Highway 14 when struck by Ravnsborg
- Mr. Boever was the cousin of former South Dakota state rep Nick Nemec
- The body was identified at 8:00 PM Sunday.
- Nobody knows why it took so long (19 hours) to contact the family.
- North Dakota investigators are assisting, due to conflict of interest
Edited: corrected direction of travel, removed details about the call
Edited: This story in the Rapid City Journal is detailed and nuanced.
Edited:
Now there is a statement from Ravnsborg claiming he didn’t drink, sheriff Mike Volek came to the scene in the night, and the Ford Taurus had to be towed. Ravnsborg claims he found the body at 8:00AM on Sunday along with Tim Bormann, his chief of staff. They didn’t call 911 at that time, but drove to the sheriff’s house to report the death in person.
There seems to be tension between Bormann and Ravnsborg.