Rapid City police arrest man in downtown pedestrian strike

David Kroeger, 49, is under arrest for a felony hit-and-run following a crash that seriously injured a pedestrian in downtown Rapid City on Tuesday.

Rapid City Police Department records show the collision occurred around 6:40 a.m. at the intersection of Omaha Street and Fifth Street. Kroeger was driving a black Jeep Gladiator northbound when he executed a right turn onto Omaha Street. During that maneuver, the vehicle struck a person using the crosswalk.

Officers stated that the pedestrian was dragged a considerable distance before the Jeep departed the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police, assisted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, located the vehicle and Kroeger shortly after the crash in the 400 block of East North Street.

Local residents and business owners along Omaha Street described the incident as predictable. They noted that drivers frequently speed through the corridor while pedestrians often cross without checking for oncoming traffic. Bear Cook, who operates at VFW Post 1273, cited a lack of mutual awareness among road users as a persistent hazard.

“On Omaha, I’ve seen pedestrians being unaware of traffic, and drivers as well being unaware of pedestrians, even on the crosswalk; it is dangerous,” Bear said.

Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of the collision. Police indicated that additional charges are possible once the full cause of the accident is determined.