Matthew Hughlen Martin, 58, lost his life Monday morning when his truck left the roadway east of Rapid City and collided with a stack of hay bales.
At about 9:02 a.m. on October 13, 2025, Martin was driving his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Bradsky Road—around 23528 Bradsky Road, roughly nine miles east of Rapid City—when for reasons yet unknown, his vehicle veered off to the right. The truck entered a ditch and struck that stack of hay bales, suffering significant impact.
Emergency crews responded quickly and transported Martin to a hospital in Rapid City, but he later succumbed to his injuries. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
At this time, it is unclear whether Martin was wearing a seat belt; officials have stated that detail remains under investigation. The South Dakota Highway Patrol, part of the Department of Public Safety, is leading the crash investigation. What’s been released so far is purely preliminary.
Authorities have identified Martin as a resident of Rapid City. The Department of Public Safety expressed its condolences to his family and emphasized a careful, thorough investigation will follow.
While many questions remain—what caused the vehicle to leave the road, whether speed or road conditions played a role, or mechanical failure—the tragedy underscores how quickly ordinary travel can turn fatal. In the coming days, investigators are expected to release more findings and clarify whether factors like distraction, impairment, or vehicle malfunction contributed to the crash.
Martin’s death is a sad reminder that behind every traffic statistic is a life lost, and families left longing for answers.