The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported on Monday that state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg had initially told the authorities he had hit a deer when he reported a car crash that led to the death of a pedestrian on Saturday night.
Ravnsborg, who was not injured in the accident, “told the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office that he had been involved in a car-deer crash” that night, according to a DPS press release emailed to TPM.
The department also stated that the body of the pedestrian, a 55-year-old man named Joe Boever, was not found until Sunday morning.
The state’s Highway Patrol is currently investigating the collision.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) announced on Sunday evening that the attorney general had been involved in a deadly crash the night before.
“There was a fatality,” Noem told reporters in a brief press conference, per the Argus Leader. “Law enforcement is working on identifying the deceased and notifying the family.”
Ravnsborg confirmed the crash shortly after the governor’s presser, stating that he was “shocked and filled with sorrow following the events of last night.”
“As Governor Noem stated, I am fully cooperating with the investigation and I fully intend to continue do so moving forward,” the attorney general said in a statement. “At this time I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family.”
This post has been updated to include the DPS’ press release to TPM.
