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Pierre, South Dakota: Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in July 4 UTV Crash That Killed a 9-Year-Old Girl

Zachary Berger, 38, of Indianola, Iowa, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Hughes County Circuit Court to second degree manslaughter in the July 4 utility vehicle crash north of Pierre that killed a 9-year-old girl. He also admitted a habitual offender allegation that raises his maximum sentence to 15 years, and he will be sentenced on December 31.

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Pierre, South Dakota: Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in July 4 UTV Crash That Killed a 9-Year-Old Girl

Key points

  • An Iowa man pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 29, to second degree manslaughter for a July 4 utility terrain vehicle crash in Hughes County that killed a 9-year-old girl, South Dakota Attorney…
  • Berger also admitted on Thursday to an amended Part II habitual offender information filed by prosecutors, the Attorney General's office said.
  • Berger was the driver of a 2008 Polaris Ranger 700 utility vehicle that crashed on Spring Creek Drive north of Pierre on July 4, according to the Attorney General's office.

An Iowa man pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 29, to second degree manslaughter for a July 4 utility terrain vehicle crash in Hughes County that killed a 9-year-old girl, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced. Zachary Berger, 38, of Indianola, Iowa, entered the plea in Hughes County Circuit Court in Pierre, the state capital. Dakota News Now, the Sioux Falls television station, also reported the guilty plea on Thursday.

Berger also admitted on Thursday to an amended Part II habitual offender information filed by prosecutors, the Attorney General's office said. The admission increases the maximum sentence Berger can receive to 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 31 in Hughes County Circuit Court, and with the guilty plea there will be no trial.

The July 4 crash north of Pierre

Berger was the driver of a 2008 Polaris Ranger 700 utility vehicle that crashed on Spring Creek Drive north of Pierre on July 4, according to the Attorney General's office. A 9-year-old girl died in the crash. A 16-year-old boy who was also in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. Officials have not released the name of the girl who died.

The crash was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Hughes County Sheriff's Office and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. The Attorney General's office prosecuted the case.

The charges Berger faced

A Hughes County grand jury indicted Berger on July 8 on eight charges in connection with the crash, including one felony count of vehicular homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and one felony count of second degree manslaughter, which carries a maximum of 10 years. The indictment also included two alternative misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, each carrying a maximum of one year in the county jail.

Prosecutors also alleged in July that Berger is a habitual offender with prior felony convictions, which, if proven, could have raised the maximum sentence on the felony counts to as much as life in prison. After the indictment, Berger was held on a $50,000 cash bond, and his next court appearance at that time was set for July 28. The plea he entered on Thursday admitted the habitual offender information in amended form, and the Attorney General's office said the admission sets his maximum possible sentence at 15 years when he is sentenced on December 31.

Timeline

  1. Jul 4, 2026A 2008 Polaris Ranger 700 driven by Zachary Berger crashes on Spring Creek Drive north of Pierre. A 9-year-old girl dies in the crash and a 16-year-old boy sustains minor injuries.
  2. Jul 8, 2026A Hughes County grand jury indicts Berger on eight charges, including vehicular homicide and second degree manslaughter. He is held on a $50,000 cash bond.
  3. Oct 29, 2026Berger pleads guilty in Hughes County Circuit Court to second degree manslaughter and admits an amended habitual offender information, raising his maximum possible sentence to 15 years.
  4. Dec 31, 2026Berger is scheduled to be sentenced in Hughes County Circuit Court.

Sources