Accused Drunken Driver Crashes into S.D. Police Station

Rapid City police officers were out on patrol when a 36-year-old woman whose blood-alcohol content was nearly three times over the legal limit slammed into the department's southwest precinct.

Source Rapid City Journal, S.D.

Sept. 22, 2025

2 min read

What to know

A 36-year-old woman was arrested after crashing her into the Rapid City Police Department’s southwest precinct early Sunday morning.
Investigators said the driver showed signs of impairment and registered 0.217 on a preliminary breath test.
Officers were on patrol and not inside the station at the time at the time of the crash, which caused extensive damage

A 36-year-old woman who allegedly had a blood-alcohol content level of nearly three times over the legal limit crashed into a Rapid City, SD, police station Sunday.

A Rapid City woman faces charges after she crashed her vehicle into a police precinct.

In a release, the Rapid City Police Department said Kelsey Herrald, 36, crashed into the southwest police precinct at the corner of Catron Boulevard and Sheridan Lake Road around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers were out on patrol and no one was inside the building at the time of the crash, police said.

The department said based on video surveillance and an initial crash investigation, Herrald was driving a 2002 GMC Yukon southbound on Sheridan Lake Road and attempted to turn east onto Catron Boulevard.

Officers were out on patrol and no one was inside the building at the time of the crash, police said.

The driver hit the median on Sheridan Lake Road during the turn, lost control and went into oncoming traffic lanes, then circled northbound going over a curb, travelled down a small embankment and hit building — causing extensive damage.

Herrald was thrown from the Yukon before it hit the building. While at the scene, officers could smell alcohol on her and noticed signs of impairment.

Herrald blew a 0.217 on a preliminary breath test, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Medics took Kelsey to the hospital for the treatment of serious, non-life-threatening injuries, police said. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence-second offense, no insurance and driving without a valid license.

"There is no excuse for driving while impaired. If you choose to go out to enjoy alcoholic beverages, always designate a sober driver. In today’s day and age, there are a variety of options for obtaining a safe ride home, including reaching out to a friend or family member, utilizing a ride-share service, or calling a taxi," police said in a Facebook post. "Plan ahead and get home safe."

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